Bill C-334 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code (journalistic sources)

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Rhéal Fortin  Bloc

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Jan. 31, 2017
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Canada Evidence Act to impose conditions in respect of the power to compel a journalist to communicate information likely to compromise the confidentiality of the identity of a source who has provided the journalist with information useful in the writing, production or dissemination, through the media, of information for the public.
It also amends the Criminal Code to impose conditions in respect of the power to issue certain warrants concerning a journalist or something found in the office or residence of a journalist. Finally, it provides for provisions for the packaging of certain things seized.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Canada Evidence ActRoutine Proceedings

January 31st, 2017 / 10:05 a.m.


See context

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-334, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code (journalistic sources).

Mr. Speaker, when our media are under surveillance, when our journalists can no longer be sure that their sources will be confidential, when issuing a surveillance order becomes a simple, routine formality, democracy loses.

The Lagacé affair was a real shock for many. The truth is that a number of journalists can no longer guarantee that their dealings with their sources will be confidential, because they no longer know who is being spied on, why they are being spied on, who is spying on them, and for how long they have been spied on. That is why today we are introducing a bill that will considerably limit the ability to compel a journalist, knowingly or not, to communicate information that is likely to compromise the identity of a source.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)