Vice reporter must turn over materials to RCMP, Ontario top court rules
TORONTO — A Vice Media reporter must give the RCMP the background materials he used for stories on an accused terrorist, Ontario’s top court affirmed Wednesday.
In a case that pitted freedom of the press against the ability of police and prosecutors to do their work, the Ontario Court of Appeal said it found no errors in an earlier ruling that went against the Canadian media outlet.
Reporter Ben Makuch, backed by various media and civil rights groups, had fought the RCMP’s production order, arguing police use of journalists to further criminal investigations would make sources reluctant to come forward.
However, the Appeal Court said Superior Court Justice lan MacDonnell had been alive to a potential “chilling effect” in this case.