'They should apologize': Alberta premier files defence in defamation lawsuit
![Alberta Premier Jason Kenney Alberta Premier Jason Kenney](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/1/23/alberta-premier-jason-kenney-1-5751394-1642958515791.png)
Premier Jason Kenney has filed his defence in a defamation lawsuit brought against him by environmental groups over his remarks on the release of an inquiry into supposed misinformation about Alberta's energy industry.
And Kenney doubled down on his attacks on such groups Friday, blaming them for making the world more dependent on oil from Vladimir Putin's Russia.
“They should apologize,” Kenney said at a press conference. “They should apologize for allowing the world's worst regimes to have a larger share of global energy markets.”
The lawsuit against Kenney was filed last month by Environmental Defence, West Coast Environmental Law, Stand. Earth, Dogwood and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee.
In documents filed in response to the lawsuit, the premier argues there was no defamation because the statement in question wasn't aimed at anyone.
“It does not identify the plaintiffs,” says the document.
The groups allege the premier defamed them by twisting inquiry commissioner Steve Allan's findings into whether the groups were using foreign funding to spread misinformation about Alberta's energy industry and landlock its oil.
Allan wrote that he found no organized campaign of misinformation. Nothing illegal happened and the groups were merely exercising their free speech rights.
But the plaintiffs say after the report was released, the government said its finding “confirms” a long-standing misinformation campaign against the industry. Those statements appeared on a government website as well as Kenney's Facebook page and Twitter feed.
Kenney's defence says there is no defamation because his remarks don't identify any of the groups that brought the lawsuit.
“The web page, the Facebook post, and the tweet do not and cannot reasonably be understood to refer to the plaintiffs, as alleged or at all,” says the document filed Wednesday in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench.
“The Key Findings document does not allege that any of these organizations disseminated misinformation, or otherwise indicate that they participated in the decade-long campaign of misinformation mentioned above ... The Facebook post and the tweet do not mention any of the plaintiffs, nor do they link to the web page.”
Even if they could be, the defence document says Kenney's remarks were fair comment and adds the plaintiffs are unable to show they suffered any damages from them.
Kenney's lawyer, Matt Woodley, declined to comment on a matter before the courts.
But Paul Champ, the lawyer for the environmentalists, scoffed at Kenney's defence.
“It's disingenuous and absurd,” he said. “Who is he referring to if he's not referring to the groups?”
All five plaintiffs were mentioned in Allan's report.
Asked about the lawsuit at a press conference in Canmore, Alta., announcing funding for a cross-country ski facility, Kenney didn't back down.
“I find it fascinating they're willing to dump millions of dollars into political and legal efforts to undermine Canadian energy exports and they're surprised when somebody shines a spotlight on their efforts. We're not going to apologize.”
Asked who his remarks were aimed at if not the plaintiffs, Kenney responded: “The organizations that have campaigned to landlock Alberta energy.”
Champ said maintaining that a public inquiry concluded something that it didn't crosses the boundaries of legitimate political debate.
“Kenney has been smearing these groups regularly, but this is a bit different. This was a public inquiry that the public should have some confidence in.
“Premier Kenney deliberately misrepresented the findings of this inquiry.”
Champ said the lawsuit will now probably wind up in court.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6778341.1708561001!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'I got no remorse': Greg Fertuck, convicted of murdering missing spouse, sentenced to life in prison
Greg Fertuck will spend life behind bars with no chance of parole until he is 90 years old, a judge ruled on Thursday at Saskatoon's Court of King's Bench.
'Ford's dry summer begins': LCBO workers set to strike Friday after talks fall apart
Thousands of employees with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario are set to walk off their jobs on Friday as the union says 'talks have broken down' and it is not hopeful that a deal will be reached to avert a strike.
Britain's Labour on track for landslide victory, exit poll suggests, amid anger with Conservatives
Britain's Labour Party headed for a landslide victory Friday in a parliamentary election, an exit poll suggested, as voters punished the governing Conservatives after 14 years of economic and political upheaval.
Saskatchewan has the lowest hourly minimum wage. How does it stack up to the rest of Canada?
Hourly minimum wages increased in several Canadian provinces this spring with more on the horizon, which economists say will likely impact workers and businesses differently.
Trying to sell or buy a home this summer? What a realtor says you should know
In the first few weeks of summer, the real estate sector is experiencing an upturn marked by more housing inventory, a Canadian realtor says
No Frills grocery stores drop 'multi-buy' offer
As receipts tick ever higher for Canadians at the grocery store and shoppers continue to search for savings, one Canadian grocer has ended a perceived deal.
Hurricane Beryl churns toward Mexico after leaving destruction in Jamaica and eastern Caribbean
After leaving a trail of destruction across the eastern Caribbean and at least nine people dead, Hurricane Beryl weakened as it chugged over open water toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday, going from the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic to Category 2 by the afternoon.
CSIS director David Vigneault stepping down after seven years on the job
David Vigneault says he is stepping down from his job at the head of Canada’s spy agency. The director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, who spent seven years at the helm, is leaving the public service altogether.
Biden tells Democratic governors he needs more sleep and plans to stop scheduling events after 8 p.m.
U.S. President Joe Biden told Democratic governors during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday that part of his plan going forward is to stop scheduling events after 8 p.m. so that he can get more sleep, according to three sources briefed on his comments.