Since February 2012, CCLA has been monitoring a freedom of expression case out of New Brunswick, in which a local blogger, Charles Leblanc, had been charged with criminal libel under Section 301, a contentious provision of the Criminal Code, for comments he made about a Fredericton police officer. CCLA wrote to the Fredericton police chief several times over the course of the past few months to express its concern about the use of a provision of the Criminal Code that has been found unconstitutional in several jurisdictions.
Following a review of the case by the province’s attorney general, charges against Mr. Leblanc were dropped and the Fredericton police chief declared he would welcome an independent review into the matter. CCLA is pleased with this development. Sheetal Rawal, CCLA articling fellow, spoke to the CBC about these recent developments:
