REGINA, Sask. — According to Sask Justice, Saskatchewan residents will have enhanced protections against online misinformation as The Defamation Act is not in force.
The new act modernizes and simplifies Saskatchewan's defamation laws to reflect today's media landscape and ensure it effectively addresses online and digital communications, the ministry says. It replaces the century-old Libel and Slander Act, which has been in place since 1909.
"The Defamation Act, provides Saskatchewan with a modern legal framework that reflects today's communications environment," Justice Minister and Attorney General Tim McLeod, K.C. said.
"With the legislation now in force, courts have clearer tools to address harmful online content while maintaining the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of reputation."
The Defamation Act will also reduce red tape for newspapers across Saskatchewan. The register of newspapers will be decommissioned, and newspaper publishers will no longer be required to make filings with the Registrar of Corporations under The Libel and Slander Act. This will ensure newspapers, broadcast and online media outlets are treated equally under the law.
This legislation also:
- Removes wording that refers specifically to "newspapers," so the law applies equally to all publishers, including digital and online media;
- Authorizes courts to make take-down and de-indexing orders against third parties when harmful online content continues to circulate after its initial publication; and
- Establishes a single cause of action for a publication and any subsequent republications of the same material by the same publisher.
"The Defamation Act provides Saskatchewan with a modern legal framework that is better suited to today's communications environment," Law Reform Commission Chair Michael Milani, K.C. said.
"The Act implements key recommendations aimed at protecting reputational rights, promoting clarity and fairness, and ensuring Saskatchewan's defamation laws remain effective and relevant in the digital age."
Following an extensive consultation in March 2024, the Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan released its final report calling for the reform and modernization of The Libel and Slander Act. As a result of their recommendations, The Defamation Act eliminates the outdated distinction between libel and slander and refers instead to “defamation,” which encompasses both written and spoken statements that harm an individual's reputation.
The Law Reform Commission is responsible for reviewing and improving Saskatchewan's laws to make them clearer and more up to date. For more information on the Commission's report and recommendations, visit: https://lawreformcommission.sk.ca.
