This is one of those legal decisions that barely cause a ripple on the pond.
But it is an important one.

Ken Peters, a reporter at the Hamilton Spectator doesn’t want to be the poster child for press freedom in Canada.
In fact, he told an Ontario Superior Court judge he’d rather spend the time in jail than have his paper pay the fine.

In Canada, the ‘loser’ in a civil dispute pays the court costs. The newspaper is paying the fine and may appeal.

Ken Peters was found in contempt of court for refusing to reveal his two sources of confidental documents for a series he wrote in 1995 on problems with a retirement home.

The case is a civil one, the home is suing health and municipal officials.
The criminal contempt charges against Peters were dropped last week. One of his sources, a former city alderman, came forward.

The civil case brought by the home will wend it’s way through the courts, lawyers will make a great deal of money and it could take years.

The Canadian Newspaper Association and Canadian Association of Journalists spoke up in support of Mr. Peters.

The lawyers in the civil case probably have the necessary documents to proceed with their lawsuit. Demanding the identity of Mr. Peters sources is way over the line. It is a line that will continue to be pushed.