WEBVTT

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Yes, a Quebec defamation claim

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may be possible.

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You must prove a civil fault,

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harm to your reputation and a

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link between them.

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A false or upsetting post alone

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does not establish the whole

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claim.

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Save the evidence now, the

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ordinary deadline is one year

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after learning of the

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defamation, and covered

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newspaper cases have shorter

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rules.

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The question is whether the

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publication, read as a whole

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and in context, lowers your

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reputation in the eyes of an

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ordinary person.

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Your humiliation or anger alone

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is not enough.

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Keep evidence that other people

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received the statement and of

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its consequences.

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Harm can sometimes be inferred

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from the proved facts, it is

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not automatically presumed from

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fault.

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No.

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Fault is assessed against

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reasonable conduct in the

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circumstances.

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Deliberately spreading a false

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accusation can be wrongful, and

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negligence can also be enough.

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Truth matters, but even true

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information can be communicated

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wrongfully.

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Courts consider context,

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diligence, purpose and freedom

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of expression.

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Quebec does not simply apply

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another province's checklist of

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defenses.

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Imagine a review saying the

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service disappointed me,

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compared with an accusation

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that the owner steals deposits.

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The second makes a factual

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allegation.

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Adding, in my opinion, does not

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settle whether the conduct was

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reasonable.

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Equally, criticism is not

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automatically unlawful because

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it is harsh.

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The facts and the full context

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matter.

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The ordinary Quebec defamation

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period is one year from the day

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you learn of the defamation.

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Do not assume a platform

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complaint, demand letter, or

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negotiation pauses it.

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Ask a lawyer to calculate the

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deadline and the filing and

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service steps, particularly for

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old posts or republication.

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Legal exceptions need

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individual assessment.

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For a covered newspaper

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article, the Press Act requires

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action within three months of

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publication or within three

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months of learning about it,

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with that later route capped at

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one year from publication.

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It also requires three days

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advance notice to the

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proprietor, excluding holidays.

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Coverage, delivery, and

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exceptions matter.

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Do not wait for a retraction

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before checking the rules.

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No.

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Quebec's Court of Appeal held

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that the Press Act did not

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cover the continuous news

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website before it.

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The court left the separate

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question of a digital newspaper

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edition unresolved.

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Different publications and

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defendants can attract

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different rules.

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That claimant still lost

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because the pleaded facts did

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not support liability, clearing

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a deadline is not winning the

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case.

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Quebec's small claims procedure

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excludes defamation, even when

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the amount sought is small.

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Ask which ordinary civil court

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has jurisdiction and whether

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the remedy you want is

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available there.

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A removal request does not

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itself compel a platform to

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act.

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An injunction requires a court

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order and the applicable legal

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requirements.

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Quebec's Code of Civil

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Procedure lets courts act

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against abusive proceedings,

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including misuse that restricts

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expression in public debate.

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Abuse can be found regardless

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of intent.

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If a party summarily shows that

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proceedings may be abusive, the

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party bringing them must show

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that they are not excessive or

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unreasonable and are justified

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in law.

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The legal test still applies,

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whatever label someone gives

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the lawsuit.

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No.

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Depending on what is

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established, the court can

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dismiss abusive proceedings or

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impose protective conditions

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when they appear abusive.

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Financial assistance with the

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case may be ordered if its

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statutory conditions are met.

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A finding of abuse can also

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lead to damages covering legal

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fees, and sometimes punitive

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damages.

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None of these results is

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automatic.

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Preserve the original post,

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dates, links, screenshots, and

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surrounding discussion before

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asking for removal.

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Record your discovery date and

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resulting harm.

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Get prompt Quebec advice about

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notice, deadlines, and

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proportionate remedies.

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A correction or negotiated

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resolution may meet your

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objective.

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Court involves your own fees

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and possible adverse costs, so

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assess that risk 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.