OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) is denouncing a Quebec Superior Court ruling that a Radio-Canada journalist reveal confidential sources.
Justice Jean-François Émond last week ordered investigative journalist Marie-Maude Denis to identify sources who came forward as part of her investigation into alleged collusion in the awarding of public contracts in Quebec.
In a statement Saturday, CAJ called the court’s decision “wrongheaded and damaging to constitutionally guaranteed press freedom”, a sentiment shared by the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec, among other press-freedom groups.
"Just months after Canada introduced a press-shield law meant to protect confidential sources, a judge is ignoring the spirit of that law," said CAJ president Nick Taylor-Vaisey, in the statement. "A healthy democracy makes room for whistleblowers to have confidential conversations with journalists. These rulings put a chill on people who want to come forward."
Radio-Canada has said that it would appeal the decision.
