CCLA to appear before Quebec Court of Appeal

The CCLA has been granted leave to intervene in the case of Leblanc c. Rawdon (Municipalite de).  The case stems from a lawsuit initiated by the Municipality of Rawdon, Rawdon’s Mayor and the Director General of the city.  The lawsuit alleges that a number of individual constituents defamed the two public officials and the city itself while chatting on an online forum.  Before the matter came to trial, the Quebec Superior Court ordered the defendants to refrain from making any future statements that would ‘defame’ the municipality.  CCLA is extremely concerned about the freedom of speech implications of municipalities suing for defamation in general, as well as the broad order restraining future speech that was issued in this case.  To read the Quebec Court of Appeal’s judgment granting leave click here.  To read CCLA’s factum click here. Arguments will likely be heard in February, 2010.