Canadian Civil Liberties and Media Organizations Join Forces to Support VICE Media's Appeal of RCMP Production Order

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - A coalition of Canadian Civil Liberties and Media organizations are applying to the Ontario Court of Appeal on October 27^th to intervene in support of VICE Media's appeal of an RCMP production order served on one of their journalists.

VICE is asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to throw out a March ruling that ordered VICE News journalist and CYBERWAR host Ben Makuch to hand over Kik messenger app chat logs between him and an alleged ISIS fighter.

This ruling sets a precedent that has potentially ruinous and wide-ranging implications for press freedom and the integrity of journalism in Canada.

This makes the outcome of the appeal a matter of importance to all Canadians. The public's right to know is at risk.

WHERE:  Courtroom 7
Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen St. W,
Toronto Ontario.

WHEN:  Thursday October 27^th 2016
10:00 AM ET

NOTE: No cameras allowed in courtroom.
Phones, laptops and social media permitted.

Media availability to follow in front of courthouse (11:45 AM approx)

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, CBC, Canadian Media Lawyers' Association, Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Media Guild, Reporters Without Borders, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Centre for Free Expression, The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association have filed motions with the Court of Appeal for permission to act as intervenors in support of VICE Media's appeal, which is opposed by the Crown.

VICE Media along with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and Reporters without borders recently launched an online campaign: http://protectpressfreedom.ca.   

The campaign raises awareness of VICE's case and petitions the Canadian Government and RCMP to drop demands for the release of Ben Makuch's correspondence with sources and to amend the statutory framework governing the use of production orders to offer greater protection against a chilling effect on free expression.

SOURCE Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT: CHRIS BALL, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS, VICE MEDIA CANADA, 416-737-9559, [email protected]; TOM HENHEFFER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CANADIAN JOURNALISTS FOR FREE EXPRESSION, 647-992-4630, [email protected]