[All] Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit Passed!

[Kevin Thomason]

FYI.  Great news on the third and final reading of the anti-SLAPP Act (The Public Participation Act) passing today at Queen's Park.  Details are below.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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Victory! Ontario citizens freed from the risk of being SLAPPed when speaking out to protect their communities



OCT
28
2015
Thanks to the Ontario government, citizens will now be able to participate in public debates without fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. 

photo credit: 
Thanks to the Ontario government, citizens will now be able to participate in public debates without fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. 

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) silence public debate and put a chill on free speech. Today the Protection of Public Participation Act passed third reading and will now become law in the Ontario legislature. The new law promises to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits without restricting legitimate legal recourse by anyone who is legitimately slandered or libelled.

Participating in public debates and speaking out on issues that affect us and our neighbours; these are basic principles in our democracy. Too many Ontario residents have already suffered damaging and frivolous lawsuits simply because they opposed development proposals or risky industry activities in their communities.

In the past, SLAPP suits were frequently used by developers and corporations as a shady tactic to intimidate and silence people. And they worked. How many of us would keep opposing an issue when faced with an expensive and time-consuming lawsuit?  

Free speech and public debate are essential to a civil society. That’s why over 60 municipalities, PEN Canada, the Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canadian Journalist for Free Expression, the Canadian Environmental Law Association and over 150 environmental organizations and many academics supported bringing in anti-SLAPP legislation. We can now say the Ontario government listened and has acted.

This new law is good for Ontario and good for democracy. We congratulate the Ontario government on stepping up to the table to put an end to SLAPP suits and protect free speech in Ontario.





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Toronto, ON -- Today, the Ontario government (as supported by the New Democratic Party and some members of the Official Opposition) stood up for free speech by passing a new law to protect citizens from harassing lawsuits aimed at silencing public debate.



These lawsuits, known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), were often launched by developers, corporations or others against concerned citizens who spoke out against proposed projects in their communities. As a result of this threat, community groups and citizens were reluctant to comment on, or object to, proposed changes or threats to their community or environment for fear of the crushing cost and stress of lawsuits.



Ontario residents will now be able to voice their concerns when industrial projects are proposed for their communities. With this new law, corporations with deep pockets will no longer be able to intimidate citizens and silence public debate.



The new law will help protect free speech in Ontario while in no way limiting anyone’s right to take legal action in cases of libel or slander. Protecting citizens’ rights to voice their concerns is good for Ontario and for democracy.



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