CJFE regularly sends letters of concern to authorities in countries around the world - including Canada - where free expression violations have occurred and which warrant particular attention on behalf of CJFE and other like-minded groups. Click on the links below to view the alerts we have released. Alerts do make a difference - and, in some cases, can save lives of imperiled journalists. If you wish to write alerts in support of press freedom around the world, we have some tips and instructions, or contact us at cjfe [at] cjfe.org for further enquiries.
Hard Questions for Canada’s Most Secret Agency
The lack of transparency of Canada’s signals intelligence agency, the CSE, makes it impossible to fully understand how it operates, or how the proposed CSE Act will change elements of its operations. Before having a debate about what the CSE should be allowed to do under the new law, we need to better understand both its past and present conduct.
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Asking tough questions is not harassment
CJFE is gravely concerned by the arrest of journalist Antoine Trépanier, an employee of Radio Canada, by the Gatineau police (SPVG) on suspicion of criminal harassment.
Trépanier was making inquiries into the case of Yvonne Dubé, who was court ordered to stop her legal practice after being found to have worked as a lawyer in Ontario without a law license. Trépanier did connect briefly with Dubé for comment but following his initial questions she withdrew from a scheduled on camera interview. Dubé is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
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CJFE intervenes in Toronto Star case to promote transparency in administrative tribunals
CJFE is intervening in a court case that could end secrecy in Ontario’s tribunals. On February 6, 2017, the Toronto Star filed a challenge under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms seeking to combat the lack of transparency that presently surrounds provincial administrative and quasi-judicial tribunals.
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The Rise of Canada's Cyber Spies
CJFE and RSF are deeply concerned by measures in Bill C-59, the federal government’s overhaul of Canada’s National Security framework, that threaten the integrity of journalism and the free expression rights of Canadians. The government of Canada must create a National Security framework that upholds human rights and is free from the potential for abuse.
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'Censored' is an 8 letter word
CJFE is concerned by the decision which the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) made in late 2017 to shutter an art installation at the new Pioneer Village station. Purchasing the installation cost the TTC $500,000. The project is entitled ‘Lightspell’ and was originally commissioned in 2009 and was developed as part of the Spadina subway extension by artists Tim and Jan Edler, who are based in Germany. The official reason for the TTC decision was cited as the potential for ‘hate speech’ resulting from the installation’s design. CJFE was recently informed by Jan Edler that the TTC omitted Lightspell from its January 18, 2018 Board meeting agenda.
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