Canada’s Information Commissioner, Caroline Maynard, has ruled that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a publicly funded broadcaster, improperly withheld information and obstructed independent journalism.
The ruling comes after CBC refused to release communications between its employees and Twitter (now X), dating back to 2018, despite being required to provide access under federal transparency laws. The request for these records was made by Rebel News.
The investigation found that CBC failed to justify its refusal to release the records, wrongly claiming that disclosure could endanger individuals or facilitate a crime. The Commissioner rejected these arguments, noting that much of the withheld information was already publicly available. CBC has now been ordered to release the records.
CBC receives over 1.5 billion dollars annually in taxpayer funding, yet attempted to block independent journalists from accessing public records about its operations. A state-funded broadcaster, especially one with a large news division, restricting access to information sets a dangerous precedent and runs contrary to the values of a free press.
The Independent Press Gallery welcomes this ruling and supports accountability in publicly funded institutions. Canadians deserve transparency from organizations that operate with their tax dollars.
Sheila Gunn Reid
President, Independent Press Gallery