The BCCLA intervened at the Supreme Court of Canada to argue that without access to the government information citizens cannot freely express themselves. The case concerned the Ontario Provincial Police’s suppression of a report that detailed a flawed investigation of a 1983 murder. The Supreme Court adopted the BCCLA’s argument in part, finding that a citizen’s rights to free expression can include the right to access information held by government where the information is essential to public discussion and is not subject to privilege.

Cathy Beagan Flood and Iris Fischer of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP acted as counsel for the BCCLA.