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World Press Freedom Canada statement on David Pugliese

World Press Freedom Canada denounces the testimony at a Parliamentary Committee hearing on October 24 that accused journalist David Pugliese of being a foreign asset. Evidence used to support the accusation is neither specific nor conclusive.

Pugliese is the recipient of WPFC’s career achievement award for his longstanding work. We reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental role of a free press in fostering an informed society. In this country people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In the interest of fairness, we ask the Public Safety and National Security committee to invite Pugliese as a witness to defend himself.

Christopher Alexander’s statement was made under the protection of Parliamentary privilege, which means it can not be challenged in court. As such, we would invite him to provide evidence outside of Parliament to substantiate this serious claim; otherwise, we consider it to be a smear campaign to undermine the journalistic integrity of Pugliese, his editor and his publisher.

Accusing reporters without evidence undermines their role in keeping governments accountable and has a chilling effect on the media. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of the press and other media to speak out. Reporting with neither fear nor favour is the foundation of a healthy democracy.