Marko Vesely Quoted in The Lawyer's Daily Article on CBC Defamation Suit
Defamation and Media lawyer Marko Vesely was quoted in an article by The Lawyer's Daily on a ruling by the British Columbia Supreme Court dismissing a claim that a CBC investigative story defamed an Indigenous tourism group.
The article, 'B.C. court dismisses defamation suit brought by Indigenous group against CBC, journalist,' examines the impact of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2022 BCSC 2030, decision.
ITAC's defamation suit, based on an allegation made as part of a CBC investigative series into the spending of federal government funds during COVID-19, was dismissed under Section 4 of the Protection of Public Participation Act (PPPA). The court found the publications met the threshold for public interest, as the reporting concerned the allocation of public funds.
“The court’s recognition and affirmation of the strong public interest … is a real affirmation in ensuring that we have a wide scope for investigative reporting on matters of significant public interest," Marko said. "That, I think, is the most important aspect of the decision.”
Read the full article here.