Rebel News, a Canadian media organization, has recently been targeted by a police raid. However, rather than storming into their premises, the police chose to secretly go to court. This secret hearing, known as an ex-parte hearing, is illegal and raises concerns about the transparency of the process.
The Calgary Police approached a judge and obtained an order demanding that Rebel News hand over unpublished footage to assist in a criminal investigation. Failure to comply with this order could result in fines or even imprisonment. Rebel News received this court order via email, which came as quite a shock to the organization.
While Rebel News is against crimes, they assert that they do not possess any secret recordings. They recorded the events in question and published almost half an hour of footage related to the incident. As journalists, they believe they have no obligation to hand over their work to the police, as they do not work for the state but for their viewers and their own consciences.
Furthermore, Rebel News suspects that the police may be seeking additional evidence to lay charges against Christian pastors and activists involved in the incident. This raises concerns about the motives behind the police’s demand for footage. Over the years, mistrust in politicians, health officials, and the police has grown, leading Rebel News to question the true intentions of the authorities.
In response to the court order, Rebel News’s lawyer, Sarah Miller, sent a letter to the Calgary Police stating that they had approached the wrong court. The court that issued the order was a junior court, lacking the power to issue such a production order. Rebel News made it clear that they would challenge the police’s actions in court, asserting that the police do not have the right to seize their news footage. They also highlighted the criminal code section that outlines the requirements for police to obtain footage from journalists.
Rebel News intends to go to the Court of King’s Bench, which has the authority to quash and revoke the illegal order. The organization believes that it is essential for them to maintain their independence. They have not committed any crimes or stolen anything, and they have already published relevant footage. They argue that it is not their obligation to provide everything to the police, as they operate in a free country where journalists are not subject to government seizures.
This isn’t the first time that Rebel News has clashed with the Calgary Police, which they accuse of being highly partisan and targeting political criminals rather than real criminals. They mention incidents involving Arthur Pavlovsky and Pastor Tim Stephens, where they believe the police acted unnecessarily and engaged in humiliating behavior. Rebel News believes that the Calgary Police are too influenced by the city’s mayor and are not focused on true law enforcement.
Rebel News’s case is set to be heard in court on September 19th at 10 a.m. in Calgary. However, legal battles can be expensive, and Rebel News has already spent $9,000 in preparation for the upcoming court date. They estimate that their legal fees will exceed $20,000, and they plan to appeal if necessary. While the Calgary Police and the City of Calgary have unlimited resources, Rebel News relies on donations from supporters to fund their legal fight. They are urging people who believe in their cause to chip in and support their legal expenses.
Rebel News’s clash with the Calgary Police raises important questions about the limits of police authority when it comes to obtaining footage from journalists. It also highlights concerns about the independence of media organizations and their ability to operate without interference from authorities. The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for press freedom in Canada.
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