Canada: Libel & Defamation

A Saskatchewan court awarded $150,000 in damages after defamatory Facebook posts accused a rural municipality administrator of lying, misallocating funds and theft. The case demonstrates how social media accusations in small communities can cross the line from legitimate criticism into actionable defamation, particularly when targeting public officials whose roles depend on trust.

The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Sheridan Retail Inc. v Roy reinforces the breadth and strength of Ontario’s anti-SLAPP framework and serves as a reminder that attempts to recast claims to avoid dismissal...

A years-long dispute between neighbours in Stouffville, Ontario escalated from a lawn mower incident to a civil trial involving claims of assault, defamation, and intrusion of privacy.

The plaintiff in this action was the former General Counsel for the O'Chiese First Nation (O'Chiese). O'Chiese had engaged a law firm to pursue litigation that was not successful.

Canadian law affords constitutional protection to privacy rights. In criminal matters, evidence that is obtained in violation of section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms...

On November 6, 2025, the Manitoba Legislature gave royal assent to the Public Interest Expression Defence Act, Manitoba's first dedicated anti SLAPP legislation.

Can a corporation feel the sting of a defamatory statement? In short, no.

The impugned documents should be expunged from the Appeal Book and Compendium.

The anti-SLAPP provisions of the Courts of Justice Act ("CJA") are powerful. If a motion succeeds in dismissing a plaintiff's action on the basis that the action was merely meant to gag the free expression...