Blogger Will Sue Newspaper And Reporter For Defamation

Businessman and internet publisher Stephen Pate has served notice of intent to sue the Charlottetown Guardian newspaper and senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau under the PEI Defamation Act.

Businessman and internet publisher Stephen Pate has served notice of intent to sue the Charlottetown Guardian newspaper and senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau under the PEI Defamation Act. Stephen Pate claims the Charlottetown Guardian defamed him in a recent newspaper article “Legislature press gallery votes to have Pate removed from accredited media.” In his notice of intent to Guardian solicitor Alan Parish, Pate claims “the Charlottetown Guardian and its reporter Nigel Armstrong have made false, malicious and injurious statements in print that have ruined my health and will make it difficult for me to act professionally in any capacity since it states I am dishonest, unethical, a lobbyist with partisan vested interests and a fraud.” Pate has demanded the Guardian retract the story and issue an unequivocal apology before he files his claim in PEI court. “Time is of the essence,” Pate wrote in a nine page notice to file a claim. “I specifically demand the article be removed immediately and that the Guardian print a full and complete retraction of the story immediately to ameliorate the situation to the greatest extent possible.” The Guardian was reporting on a public meeting chaired and controlled by their senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau and reporter Teresa Wright. The meeting was called by Thibodeau and Wright to review Pate’s credentials as an accredited Legislative journalist. Pate had been elected by Thibodeau and Wright only two weeks earlier as Secretary of the embryonic Press Gallery of the PEI Legislature. However, Thibodeau changed his mind when the Legislative Speaker expressed her disdain for Pate the next day. Pate publishes NJN Network, an internet news journal, which is known for being sharply critical of both the government and the media who report on them. Thibodeau’s turnaround influnced the other two executives on the board of the Press Gallery, Brendon Elliot of the CBC and Pate, to resign. This left the Guardian in control of the Press Gallery and the meeting. At least six Guardian employees or those of its sister paper the Journal Pioneer voted down all motions Pate brought at the meeting. Pate claims the Guardian’s actions have made his disability worse due to stress and anxiety. At the start of the meeting, Pate requested accommodation for his post polio syndrome. He asked for a morning meeting when he would not be tired and his leg not in great pain from edema and fatigue. Thibodeau denied the request and Pate claims the Guardian article demeans his disability and request. “I believe this is a clear case of disability abuse and discrimination,” said Pate. “Courts, tribunals, and Legislative committees have speedily granted my reasonable requests to meeting times better suited to the problems my disability creates.” “Not only were the Guardian and Thibodeau violating my human rights, they showed behavior towards those with disabilities that is unconscionable to Canadians. I believe the abuse speaks to their motive to defame and use the meeting and newspaper as a bully-pulpit.” The Guardian has not issued a response to Pate’s request.

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