<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Fabulous! And about time.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature">Susan B<br><br>Sent from my iPad</div><div><br>On Oct 28, 2015, at 12:28 PM, Jan Liggett <<a href="mailto:jkliggett@rogers.com">jkliggett@rogers.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<div>Whoohoo!</div>
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<div style="font-color: black"><b>From:</b> <a title="butterflybluelu@rogers.com" href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com">Louisette Lanteigne</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 28, 2015 3:25 PM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="kevinthomason@mac.com" href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com">Kevin Thomason</a> ; <a title="all@gren.ca" href="mailto:all@gren.ca">GREN</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [All] Anti-SLAPP Lawsuit Passed!</div></div></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr">I literally just got back from
Toronto. I was sitting in the Gallery box as the vote happened. Judiciary
members had a special access pass to these exclusive box seats right near the
MPP's. Lots of security on hand for us so I felt very safe. It was
wonderful to watch the vote. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr">I was so happy to see reps from
all parties supporting this bill. Tory MPP HIllier told me he would and he lived
up to his word. It was great to see. The house is quite an exquisite place
to be. As the votes took place one by one a couple of tears escaped me. It was
so moving to see so much support shown. Afterwards it felt like that moment
after I gave birth to my kids. There is this peace that sets in with an enhanced
sense of being there. I was filled with serenity knowing that the process is now
complete and that sacrifices made have come to fruition. So many lives, so many
stories resulted in this law. The passing of the law is testimony to years worth
of efforts, communications, policy analysis along with blood sweat and tears. We
now have something tangible to better protect the public's right to speak.
</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr">I shook hands with Kathleen
Wynne and gave my thanks. I spoke with many MPP's and again gave thanks. Now for
the first time in a very long time, I feel like I can actually get some sleep.
My heart is at peace. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6010" dir="ltr">Lulu :0)</div>
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<font id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6392" size="2" face="Arial"><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</span></b> Kevin Thomason
<<a href="mailto:kevinthomason@mac.com">kevinthomason@mac.com</a>><br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</span></b> GREN <<a href="mailto:all@gren.ca">all@gren.ca</a>> <br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, October 28, 2015 3:08
PM<br><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</span></b> [All] Anti-SLAPP
Lawsuit Passed!<br></font></div>
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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_5763">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.
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6202"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_6009">Cheers,</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_5764">Kevin.</div>
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<h1 id="yui_3_16_0_1_1446058832591_8372" class="yiv1379821231title" style="FONT-SIZE: 30px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Gotham Book', arial, sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bolder; COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; LETTER-SPACING: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"><img id="yiv137982123142A2C2DC-8D30-4784-A0F5-5284A6B60EFF" style="BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="cid:223CED4D258D4564BACFDCE96CE60C16@BenabecPC" width="44" align="absMiddle" height="44" data-id="8e9d475b-b256-3895-3f16-2f05a381945d">Victory! Ontario citizens freed
from the risk of being SLAPPed when speaking out to protect their
communities</h1>
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<div class="yiv1379821231verticalDate yiv1379821231floatLeft" style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Gothom Book', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; WIDTH: 40px; FLOAT: left; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; PADDING-TOP: 0.7em; PADDING-LEFT: 1.2em; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-TOP: 8px; LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 5px">
<div class="yiv1379821231month" style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase">OCT</div>
<div class="yiv1379821231day" style="FONT-SIZE: 26px">28</div>
<div class="yiv1379821231year">2015</div></div>
<div class="yiv1379821231blog-summary" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(68,68,68); PADDING-BOTTOM: 1em; PADDING-TOP: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 1em; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 1em; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(239,239,239)">Thanks
to the Ontario government, citizens will now be able to participate in public
debates without fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. </div>
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<div class="yiv1379821231floatRight" style="FLOAT: right"><Anti-Slapp victory FB.png>
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credit: </div></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em">Thanks to the Ontario
government, citizens will now be able to participate in public debates without
fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. </div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em"><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/issues/protecting-public-participation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation</a>
(SLAPPs) silence public debate and put a chill on free speech. Today the
<em>Protection of Public Participation Act </em>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.</div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em">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.</div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em">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?
</div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em">Free speech and public
debate are essential to a civil society. That’s why over 60 municipalities, <a class="yiv1379821231ext" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="http://pencanada.ca/news/welcome-progress-on-anti-slapp-legislation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PEN Canada</a><span class="yiv1379821231ext" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/modules/extlink/extlink.png); BACKGROUND-POSITION: 100% 50%; PADDING-RIGHT: 12px"></span>,
the <a class="yiv1379821231ext" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="http://www.oba.org/Advocacy/Advocacy-News-Initiatives/Ontario-Bar-Association-calls-for-anti-SLAPP-bill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ontario Bar Association</a><span class="yiv1379821231ext" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/modules/extlink/extlink.png); BACKGROUND-POSITION: 100% 50%; PADDING-RIGHT: 12px"></span>,
<a class="yiv1379821231ext" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="http://ccla.org/our-work/fundamental-freedoms/mapping-slapps-the-trademark-project/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canadian Civil Liberties Association</a><span class="yiv1379821231ext" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/modules/extlink/extlink.png); BACKGROUND-POSITION: 100% 50%; PADDING-RIGHT: 12px"></span>,
the <a class="yiv1379821231ext" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="http://rnao.ca/policy/submissions/letter-minister-john-gerretson-attorney-general-bill-83-protection-public-partici" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Registered Nurses Association of Ontario</a><span class="yiv1379821231ext" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/modules/extlink/extlink.png); BACKGROUND-POSITION: 100% 50%; PADDING-RIGHT: 12px"></span>,
<a class="yiv1379821231ext" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(17,17,17)" href="https://cjfe.org/resources/protest_letters/organizations-continue-call-anti-slapp-legislation-ontario" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canadian Journalist for Free Expression</a><span class="yiv1379821231ext" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://environmentaldefence.ca/modules/extlink/extlink.png); BACKGROUND-POSITION: 100% 50%; PADDING-RIGHT: 12px"></span>,
the <strong>Canadian Environmental Law Association</strong> 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.</div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.3em">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.</div>
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<div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>---------------------------</div></div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>All
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