What I want to protect is journalistic activity which is always carried out in the public interest. In a fairly short document, scarcely more than two pages, three provisions set out the balance judges must strike between the principles at stake: the government's interest, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the protection of sources and journalistic activity, which is inevitable in a democratic society. And that is the spirit of clause 39.1(7). In order to do a good job at keeping us well informed, journalists need people to trust them. And yet, people will trust them less if they know they are becoming adjuncts of the police. Journalists who are but adjuncts of the police are characteristic of dictatorial or totalitarian regimes. In the bill, reference is made to a balance between the values in clause 39.1(5)(b), clause 39.1(7) and clause 39.1(8)(b).
I remain convinced that such legislation would be highly useful, and very much appreciated not only by the journalistic community but also...