Trudeau vouches for source protection

Opposition challenges him to support bill to allow journalistic confidentiality

OTTAWA— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons he believes journalists should be able to shield their sources.

But the opposition challenged him to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

In his strongest statement yet on press freedoms, Trudeau endorsed the notion of reporters being able to protect the identity of their confidential sources on World Press Freedom Day, hours after he hailed the value of a free and open press as “crucial to an informed and engaged citizenry.” It came in answer to New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair in question period.

Mulcair said “under the watch of the prime minister” Canada has dropped 14 points to 22nd in an annual index by Reporters Without Borders, which puts Canada behind Samoa and just ahead of the Czech Republic and Namibia.

Mulcair challenged Trudeau to drop his “empty phrases and talking points” and pointed to Canadian cases where journalists were under surveillance or forced to fight the RCMP in court to protect their freedom.

“So will the prime minister acknowledge here today that journalists have the right to protect their sources, yes or no?” Mulcair demanded.

“A strong and independent media, a free press, is essential in the protection of our democracy and of its institutions,” Trudeau replied. “Yes, of course, journalists should always be able to protect their sources.

“That is something we believe in strongly as a government, and that is something that we will continue to defend and fight for, not just here in Canada, but around the world.”

An important demonstration of Trudeau’s convictions would be whether his government will support a Senate bill, S-231, that seeks to protect journalistic sources.

In reply to questions from the Star about what he meant, Trudeau’s office was noncommittal. Spokesperson Cameron Ahmad referred back to the prime minister’s earlier statements and said the Senate bill has just been introduced or “read” a first time in the House of Commons “and our government is currently reviewing the legislation.”

Mulcair demanded a different demonstration of what Trudeau meant.

In the Commons, he asked whether the prime minister was “willing to tell the RCMP to drop its court case against Vice (Media’s) journalist that they are now pursuing?”