Public Safety committee  Yes, of course. We took into account the briefs we received from police forces and the organizations who appeared. Their primary concern had to do with how the definition of “journalist” would be applied. That is why we relied on the feedback we received from police and the Canad

Public Safety committee  The definition of “document” is the same one that appears in the Criminal Code. I don't know the exact section, but it's the definition used in the Criminal Code. “Document” refers to any evidence or piece of evidence on any medium, computer-based or otherwise, on which data is r

Public Safety committee  To obtain a warrant, police must have reasonable and probable cause to believe that the office or location in question contains information likely to prove that a crime was committed. Those are the ground rules.

Public Safety committee  The protection for journalists currently available is through common law. We used some of those criteria in the bill, but we raised the current level of protection by setting out a very specific procedure for the obtaining and disclosure of information. We also reversed the burd

Public Safety committee  The journalist association, whose name escapes me right now, would probably be the one that best represents journalists in small local and ethnic media. Its representatives gave us a clear sense of the position of small media.

Public Safety committee  Thank you for your question. Initially, the definition was much broader. Both the coalition of Canadian media and police forces thought the definition was too broad, and could include bloggers working for free in their basements. That was problematic for police officers in terms

Public Safety committee  We heard from associations who represented all journalists, including those in local and ethnic media. The definition obviously refers to a journalist who is being paid. That can include freelance journalists, so the scope of the bill is very broad. I don't think it excludes bas

Public Safety committee  Yes, I can start. Thank you. Mr. Chair, members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, I would like to thank you for agreeing to study Bill S-231 so quickly. The bill addresses a fundamental issue, freedom of the press, a pillar of our democracy safeg