Xaidsart lawyer Justin Safayeni is before the Supreme Court of Canada this morning representing a coalition of broadcasters, publishers, journalist organizations and free expression advocacy groups as interveners in the case of Vice Media Canada Inc. v. Her Majesty the Queen. The case stems from the RCMP obtaining a production order requiring a Vice journalist to turn over all records of his communications with a source for the purpose of investigating and prosecuting that source for terrorism-related offences. The coalition’s submissions focus on clarifying the protections that should be afforded to a journalist’s communications with non-confidential sources in these circumstances, arguing that the media’s right to privacy must weigh heavily in the balance and is engaged whenever police seek to seize a journalist’s work product. Justin will be presenting oral argument before the Court and you can read the coalition’s written submissions here. The case has attracted national and international attention due to its implications for press freedom in Canada.
