Canadian Association of Journalists condemns Carney for blocking reporters from his event

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has slammed Liberal leader wannabe Mark Carney from evicting journalists from his campaign kickoff event in Edmonton last week.

I was evicted by police from Carney's campaign launch event in Edmonton last Thursday. I stood excluded as other reporters from CBC, Global and CityNews walked past into the conference room. Reporters from True North and Counter Signal were also banned.

"The CAJ is troubled by the decision of police to remove reporter James Westgate Snell from Mark Carney's Liberal leadership campaign launch event late last week in Edmonton," wrote CAJ on X.

"Snell is an accredited member of the Alberta legislative press gallery. He registered, in advance, to cover the event without word of restriction. As the CAJ has said many times before, politicians and political parties should not be in the business of deciding who is — or is not — a journalist."

Furthermore, I came very close to being bodychecked by Liberal MP George Chahal in a doorway as I was being escorted out of the building. Also, a police officer had no reason to place a hand on me.

Here's a story I recently wrote about Chahal's brother — 'Brother of Liberal MP says he wants oral sex from male Conservative MP.'

Later on national TV, Chahal said all local reporters were allowed to ask questions at the event.