Montréal Partner Christian Leblanc comments on recent developments in the so-called Secret Trial case, in an article published in La Presse (in French only).
He analyzes a recent ruling that rejected a request by the federal government to block the publication of a Québec Superior Court decision. For the second time, the Court found that the government had acted improperly in this extraordinary case—an episode that ultimately led the Supreme Court of Canada, in 2024, to reaffirm the fundamental importance of open court proceedings.
Christian Leblanc led the team of Fasken lawyers that successfully represented a coalition of media organizations before the Supreme Court of Canada. The coalition sought greater public disclosure concerning the case and safeguards to ensure that secret court proceedings do not occur in the future.
Reacting to the latest ruling, Christian Leblanc said:
“I am pleased to see that the work we did before the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Court’s ruling in this case, are bearing fruit. I am deeply convinced that open court proceedings and transparency in the justice system are essential to establishing and maintaining public confidence in our judicial institutions.”
Christian Leblanc also commented on the recent ruling in the “Secret Trial” case in an article by The Canadian Press.
