WEBVTT

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Yes, an Alberta defamation

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claim may be possible.

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But a false or upsetting post

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is only the starting point.

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You need to consider what it

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means, who received it, the

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defenses and the cost of court.

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Save the evidence now.

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Newspaper and broadcast cases

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can require formal notice much

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sooner than the ordinary

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deadline to sue.

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The statement must refer to

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you, reach at least one other

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person, and tend to lower your

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reputation in a reasonable

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person's eyes.

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A small private group can be

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enough.

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You need not be named if

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readers can identify you from

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context.

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A message sent only to you

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lacks third-party publication.

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Consider these imaginary

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reviews, I found the service

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disappointing, and, the owner

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steals customers' deposits.

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One expresses dissatisfaction,

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the other alleges dishonest

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conduct.

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Adding, in my opinion, does not

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automatically protect a factual

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accusation.

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Courts consider the whole

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publication and its context.

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The defence must satisfy its

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legal requirements.

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A label is not enough.

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Substantial truth is a complete

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defence.

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Fair comment can protect

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recognizable opinion on a

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public interest matter with a

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proper factual foundation.

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Privilege protects particular

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occasions, and responsible

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communication can protect

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public interest reporting where

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appropriate diligence was used.

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These defenses have different

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requirements.

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Honest belief alone is not a

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universal answer, and malice

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can defeat qualified privilege

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or fair comment.

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The ordinary Alberta period is

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two years from when you knew,

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or reasonably should have

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known, the facts making the

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claim discoverable.

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There is also a 10-year

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ultimate limit, with

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exceptions.

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Do not assume time stops while

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you negotiate or complain to a

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platform.

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Get the actual deadline

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calculated, especially for

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older posts, anonymous authors

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or repeat publications.

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For covered media claims,

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written notice of your

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intention to sue must be given

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within three months after the

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publication comes to your

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notice or knowledge.

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It must identify the defamatory

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matter.

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The notice period before action

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is seven days for a daily

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newspaper, and 14 for other

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covered newspapers or

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broadcasts.

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That notice is separate from

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starting the lawsuit.

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Do not assume so.

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The act has specific

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definitions and rules about the

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defendants, newspaper publisher

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details and broadcaster

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information requests.

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Notice must be served in the

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same manner as a statement of

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claim.

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Ask a lawyer which rules apply

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to this publication and each

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proposed defendant.

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A casual complaint is not a

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safe substitute for checking

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formal notice.

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Alberta's Court of Justice

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cannot hear defamation claims

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or counterclaims.

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Asking for a small amount does

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not remove that exclusion.

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A defamation lawsuit generally

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belongs in the Court of King's

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Bench.

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Discuss the likely cost and

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realistic remedy before filing.

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A correction or negotiated

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resolution may achieve your

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objective without a full

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lawsuit.

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As checked on September sixth,

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2026, Alberta has no general

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anti-SLAPP statute equivalent

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to Ontario's or BC's.

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Their special public interest

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dismissal process does not

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automatically apply here.

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Alberta courts still have

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ordinary powers to strike

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hopeless or abusive pleadings

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and decide suitable cases

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without a full trial.

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Calling a lawsuit a SLAPP does

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not decide the legal test.

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In an Alberta case, a letter

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accusing municipal officials of

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criminal conduct led to damages

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after trial.

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The court found the allegations

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untrue, factual rather than

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protected opinion, and

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malicious.

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The lesson is to examine the

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evidence and the occasion

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carefully.

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A dispute involving public

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officials does not

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automatically protect every

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accusation.

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Save the exact words, links,

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dates, surrounding discussion,

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and evidence of who received

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it.

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Keep records connecting the

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statement to lost work or other

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harm.

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Damage is presumed when

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defamation is proved, but the

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amount is case-specific.

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Losing a lawsuit or application

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can leave you paying some of

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the other side's legal costs as

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well as your own.

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Preserve the evidence before

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requesting removal.

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Ask an Alberta defamation

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lawyer about notice, the

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limitation date, defenses, and

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proportionate options.

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Be clear whether you want a

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correction, retraction,

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removal, or compensation.

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A demand does not force a

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platform to delete content, and

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an injunction needs a court

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order.

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Recheck current law before

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escalating.

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For free general legal

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information, Legal Hotline's

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Canada number is on your screen

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now.

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Legal Hotline is not a law

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firm.

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Its information line uses AI.

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Lawyer matching is a separate

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service, subject to

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availability and acceptance.

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For advice on your own

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situation, speak with a lawyer

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in your province.

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In immediate danger, contact

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emergency services.