Vol. 72/No. 28      July 14, 2008

This is the second such suit against the publisher and authors, with the mining giant Barrick Gold already suing them for $6 million.

Written by Alain Deneault, in collaboration with Delphine Abadie and William Sacher, Noir Canada is an exposé of the role of Canadian mining companies in Africa and the support they receive from the Canadian government.

écosociété and the authors have launched a well-publicized defense campaign. On June 12 some 450 people attended a packed benefit concert.

As of June 21 more than 6,000 people and organizations had signed a petition demanding that the Quebec government adopt a law banning suits aimed at silencing critics and opponents of corporate interest.

A bill “to prevent abusive use of the courts and promote freedom of expression and citizen participation in public debate,” was introduced June 12 in the Quebec National Assembly by Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis. It will be discussed and submitted for adoption next fall.

“This is partly the result of our and others’ efforts,” said Noir Canada author William Sacher that evening at a Militant Labor Forum here. Sacher stressed that the bill is not retroactive, however, and that the current suit by Barrick Gold will go ahead in the court.

Sharing the platform with Sacher, Michel Prairie from the Communist League stressed the importance for working people to support the fight put up by écosociété and the authors of Noir Canada. He pointed out that “these attempts at censoring and silencing critics and opponents of big business and their government will be used against working people fighting for our rights.”  
 
 
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