Supreme Court decision paves way for Lascaris libel action against B’nai Brith

OTTAWA — A Supreme Court of Canada decision gives lawyer and human-rights advocate Dimitri Lascaris the green light to pursue a libel action against a national Jewish group.

The top court has declined to hear an appeal from B’nai Brith Canada in the matter.

Lascaris, the recent runner-up for the federal Green party leadership, was accused by B’nai Brith of being a supporter of terrorists following a 2016 trip he made to Israel.

Lascaris initiated a libel case against the group, which brought a motion to dismiss the action using anti-SLAPP legislation — a tool to prevent people from using the courts to silence speech that is in the public interest.