The Federal Leader’s Debates Commission has settled a defamation lawsuit out of court with Rebel News Network Ltd. for $8,500.
The payment was disclosed in Public Accounts tabled in Parliament, listed under the heading Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, according to documents obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.
In 2019 and 2021, Rebel News was refused participation in federal election campaign debates, and judges later determined that the news outlet had been blacklisted by the Debates Commission based on arbitrary criteria in both instances.
The Commission’s executive director, Michel Cormier, formerly a reporter with CBC, stated in his affidavit that the Commission had to ensure “high journalistic standards for the leaders’ debates” as an explanation for Rebel reporters being denied access to the debates….