Yearly Archives: 2021

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) calls for swift and decisive action from authorities in response to a recent wave of targeted threats made against multiple Canadian journalists. Last week, Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, publicly urged his followers on Twitter to ‘play dirty’ with journalists who were requesting comments around the party’s ties to the far right. Bernier proceeded to specifically target three Canadian journalists by publicly sharing their email addresses on the social media platform. In response, Twitter proceeded to suspend Bernier’s account for a period of 12 hours. Over the past week, [...]

On this Right to Know Day, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) calls on the federal government, provincial governments, municipalities, and other publicly-funded agencies, once again, to take meaningful steps towards implementing long-sought solutions to ensure the right to know of Canadians is respected.  To mark #RTK2021, the CAJ is working with the Public Service Information Community Connection (PSICC) on their Right to Know Week festivities. The CAJ will be participating in a panel discussion called Fresh Eyes on FOI on September 29. CAJ members can receive a $20 discount to attend the week’s events. Contact us for a promo [...]

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada released an important decision on the public’s right to know about court proceedings. A coalition of press freedom groups, including the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), intervened in the appeal. The coalition is pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision. It helps ensure that publication bans will not escape challenge by journalists and scrutiny by the courts. In Canadian Broadcasting Corp. v. Manitoba, 2021 SCC 33, the court held that courts can overturn or vary publication bans or sealing orders even after the underlying case is over. Where an affected party, such as a [...]

Four federal parties have responded to questionnaires submitted on behalf of more than a dozen press freedom and public interest advocacy groups, including the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), to explain how their governments would implement long-overdue reforms to Canada’s archaic access to information system.   Each federal party was sent a survey containing five questions ranging in subject from how their party would amend laws to provide greater access to records, ensuring the Information Commissioner has authority to independently review decisions, and addressing exemptions used to delay the release of critical public interest information.  The Liberal Party of Canada, the [...]

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is thrilled to partner with the Public Service Information Community Connection (PSICC) that is organizing the 2021 Right to Know Week activities across Canada. On September 29, CAJ president Brent Jolly will be moderating a panel discussion with emerging and established journalists about both the strengths and weaknesses of the #cdnfoi system and ideas for reform. Panelists include: Alexander Quon was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has an interest in data reporting and political coverage and started at CBC Saskatchewan in 2021 after spending the first four years of his career in [...]

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) calls on all party leaders to explain how their government would implement long-overdue reforms to Canada’s archaic access to information system during tonight’s French-language and tomorrow’s English-language federal leaders’ debates being held at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.  “Canadians’ right to know is so frequently poorly-served by our crumbling federal access to information system,” said CAJ president Brent Jolly. “Looking at the party platforms, there is scant mention of plans for reforms, which is a Houdini-like act of deception aimed at keeping citizens perpetually in the dark about how government decisions [...]

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) continue to press the federal government to cut unnecessary ‘red tape’ and uphold its obligation to support Afghan journalists, and support workers, who risked their personal safety to help Canadian reporters bear witness and report safely during the nearly two decade-long conflict.  On August 20, the CAJ and CJFE, with the support of dozens of news organizations and other press freedom groups, first called on the federal government to provide safe passage to Afghan journalists who have helped Canadians. Over the past two weeks, members of our [...]

Over the past several days, the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) and the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) have been working, with the support of multiple Canadian news organizations, to inform the federal government of their duty to support Afghan journalists and support staff who made our work possible. The return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan has placed many residents of that country in grave danger. Among them are dozens of courageous Afghans who worked tirelessly to help Canadian journalists cover this tragic story over two decades. Their bravery and commitment must not be forgotten. They provided [...]

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) strongly condemns the recent arrest of a photojournalist by RCMP officers at the Fairy Creek watershed on Vancouver Island. The CAJ is dismayed by the actions of the RCMP, which took place just days after a B.C. Supreme Court judge ordered police not to interfere with media access absent a bona fide operational reason for doing so.  On Tuesday morning, RCMP arrested photojournalist Colin Smith, who was covering the ongoing demonstrations at Fairy Creek for Victoria Buzz. Despite Smith having identified himself as media, officers seized his backpack, drone, and two professional grade cameras, [...]