Journalists, academics and civil society groups endorse call for Anti-SLAPP legislation to protect free and democratic speech in Alberta
July 13, 2026 – An alliance of more than 100 organizations and individuals in journalism, academia, and civil society are endorsing an open letter calling for the Province of Alberta to adopt anti-SLAPP legislation to protect freedom of expression and democratic participation in Alberta.
The open letter and full list of co-signers is available at the website: https://antislappalberta.ca/. The letter calls attention to the growing number of legal threats and lawsuits targeting journalists and free expression on issues of public interest.
There is currently no legislation enabling courts in the Province of Alberta to dismiss Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (or “SLAPP” lawsuits). However, such legislation already exists in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba, which was adopted this past December with cross-party support.
SLAPP lawsuits are legal actions designed to intimidate and silence critics through the threat of expensive and time-consuming litigation. These legal actions are often frivolous, abusive or politically-motivated and often target journalists, media organizations and others who speak up on issues of public interest.
Alberta has seen a growing number of lawsuits over the last decade involving politically-connected individuals as plaintiffs and journalists, academics, and other critics as defendants.
Anti-SLAPP legislation creates an important step in the legal process that gives courts an opportunity to assess the merits and motives of a legal action at an early stage of proceedings, potentially sparing individuals and organizations targeted by SLAPP lawsuits from lengthy and expensive trials.
The open letter was spearheaded by the Canadian Association of Journalists and is co-signed by dozens of Alberta-focused news organizations and associations representing news publishers and broadcasters in Alberta, including the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, News Media Canada, RTDNA Canada and Press Forward.
The letter is also endorsed by national and international press freedom groups, including Reporters Without Borders, PEN Canada, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Journalists for Human Rights and the Canada Press Freedom Project, as well as academic associations such as J-Schools Canada and the Canadian Association of University Teachers.
