Author and right-wing blogger and broadcaster – Ezra Levant
Ezra Levant, Canadian radio broadcaster, author, and blogger, has been ordered to pay Khurrum Awan $80,000 for libel. He was found to make libelous statements about Mr. Awan on his controversial blog site.
Ezra Levant, Canadian radio broadcaster, author, and blogger, has been ordered to pay Khurrum Awan $80,000 for libel. He was found to make libelous statements about Mr. Awan on his controversial blog site.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Matheson released her written decision November 27, 2014, following a trial in March and April of this year. In addition to the financial award, Justice Matheson ordered Mr. Levant to remove the defamatory words from his website within 15 days.
Mr. Levant had posted 9 blog articles on his “shock-jock” website. In it, he called Mr. Awan a liar, comparing his behaviour to extortion, implying that he was not fit, competent, or ethical enough to be a lawyer. He also implyed that Mr. Awan was anti-Semetic.
Levant’s blog posts focused on Awan’s testimony at a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Case.
“Even after learning of certain errors he admits he made in the blogs, he addressed only one. Further, rather than taking a hard look at his publications when he was service with notice of libel, he just kept going on”, stated Justice Matheson in her written Reasons for Judgment.
Not only did Justice Matheson find that Mr. Levan failed to check his facts before publishing his statements, she also found that he demonstrated malice towards Mr. Awan. The finding of malice added another $30,000 to the $50,000 awarded for general damages.
At the time of the defamatory statements, Mr. Awan was a law student. He advanced evidence that Mr. Levant’s statements negatively affected his ability to find work in Ontario. He later secured a position in Saskatchewan.
Mr. Levant is no stranger to controversy. In September 2014, his employer, Sun News Network, apologized for one of his rants about Justin Trudeau. The Sun also retracted one of Levant’s stories, and issued an apology, after a prominent investor (Mr. Soros) threatened a libel lawsuit in 2010.
Michael Bolen, of the Huffington Post, noted that Mr. Levant also lost a libel suit to Human Rights Commission lawyer Giacomo Vigna, in 2010.
In 2013, The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that Levant violated its ethics code when he described Roma people as belonging to “a culture synonymous with swindlers.”
Mr. Levant holds a law degree from the University of Alberta. He defended himself in this civil action and stated that he plans to appeal the decision.
Jayne Embree M.A.
Divorce Coach and Child Specialist
Jayne holds a Masters in Psychology and is a highly experienced Divorce Coach and Child Specialist. Currently on sabbatical, Jayne is conducting research in the area of family dynamics and parental conflict.
Areas of Practice: Family law including separation, divorce, mediation, arbitration, child & spousal support, support variations, guardianship, parenting time, access, property division and more. Victoria BC