As I was saying earlier, journalists covering news content of public interest, as defined in the bill, don't have an opinion to express. Journalists don't express opinions. Their job is to report the facts, and they have to do so with rigour in the treatment of the news and sources. Journalists don't interpret the facts on their own; they report them. It's important to treat the source with rigour and look for a variety of sources to support the content of a report.
A newsroom where journalists would make such comments or express such opinions would simply not be eligible. It would certainly not be considered an eligible news business under the act.
As for the Criminal Code question, I don't have an answer. I assume that there must be a framework of that nature. A self‑respecting newsroom would never make that kind of comment. It simply wouldn't be considered a newsroom.