Zoe wrote:
But you haven't addressed my objection to your claim that it's criminal.
Zoe
I took your comment as rhetorical, and failed to realize that you expected an answer. The following are extracted from the Criminal Code of Canada
Defamatory Libel
Definition http://laws.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-46/17288.html#article-298
- (1) A defamatory libel is matter published, without lawful
justification or excuse, that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult the person of or concerning whom it is published.
Mode of expression
(2) A defamatory libel may be expressed directly or by insinuation or irony
(a) in words legibly marked on any substance; or
(b) by any object signifying a defamatory libel otherwise than by words.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 262.
Publishing http://laws.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-46/17288.html#article-299
- A person publishes a libel when he
(a) exhibits it in public;
(b) causes it to be read or seen; or
(c) shows or delivers it, or causes it to be shown or delivered, with intent that it should be read or seen by the person whom it defames or by any other person.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 263.
Punishment of libel known to be false http://laws.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-46/17288.html#article-300
- Every one who publishes a defamatory libel that he knows is false
is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 264.
Punishment for defamatory libel http://laws.justice.gc.ca/fr/C-46/17288.html#article-301
- Every one who publishes a defamatory libel is guilty of an
indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.