20.79°C Vancouver

Mar 22, 2023 7:53 PM - The Canadian Press

Former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart wins $100,000 costs in NPA defamation case

Share On
former-vancouver-mayor-kennedy-stewart-wins-100-000-costs-in-npa-defamation-case
The ruling says Stewart wanted damages, arguing the lawsuit was filed in bad faith for an improper purpose, but Baker says that awarding full costs addresses any harm the case may have caused (Photo: The Canadian Press)

A B.C. judge says former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart can recover more than $100,000 in legal costs related to a failed defamation case launched by political rivals in the once-dominant Non-Partisan Association.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Wendy Baker says in her March 20 ruling that the defamation case against Stewart by current and former members of the NPA's board of directors was a "strategic lawsuit against public participation."

They sued Stewart after he issued a press release in January 2021 denouncing "hate and extremism" in the NPA in response to media reports on the party's internal turmoil over an ideological shift to the right.

Baker's judgment says the defamation claims had "substantial merit," but found Stewart's statements were not malicious and were fair game because the issues were in the public interest and had been widely reported.

Baker says the NPA board members also tried to strategically and inappropriately disqualify Stewart's lawyers from the case, increasing his legal costs.

The ruling says Stewart wanted damages, arguing the lawsuit was filed in bad faith for an improper purpose, but Baker says that awarding full costs addresses any harm the case may have caused.

Latest news

coquitlam-rcmp-announce-guilty-plea-after-lengthy-firearm-related-offence-investigation
BCJul 29, 2025

Coquitlam RCMP announce guilty plea after lengthy firearm related offence investigation

Following a lengthy police investigation into a 2021 shooting incident that occurred in Coquitlam, 36-year-old Sukhdeep Singh Pansal of Delta, British Columbia, has plead guilty to firearms related charges and has been sentenced to 38 months in prison. On January 16, 2021, at approximately 12:05 a.m., Coquitlam RCMP frontline officers responded to a report of shots fired from a high-rise building located in the 600 block of Whiting Way, Coquitlam. A woman was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken to hospital. The Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team (ERT) ass
north-vancouver-rcmp-seek-publics-help-identifying-suspect-in-series-of-break-and-enters
BCJul 29, 2025

North Vancouver RCMP seek public’s help identifying suspect in series of Break and Enters

North Vancouver RCMP are seeking public assistance in identifying a suspect involved in three separate break and enter incidents. On July 8, 2025, North Vancouver RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a residential building in the 2100 block of Chesterfield Avenue, North Vancouver. CCTV footage from the building captured a male suspect gaining access at approximately 4:00 a.m. Nothing was stolen, but damage was caused to the property. On July 10, 2025, police received a second report from the same residential building. The suspect entered the premises and stole approximately $600 in c
seniors-advocate-says-b-c-will-need-almost-16-000-new-long-term-care-beds-by-2036
BCJul 29, 2025

Seniors advocate says B.C. will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036

A report from British Columbia's seniors' advocate say the province will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036 to meet the demands of an aging society. Dan Levitt's report tabled at the provincial legislature pegs the current shortfall at over 2,000 beds, and predicts the gap will "grow exponentially" over the next decade. It says the number of people waiting for beds has grown significantly in the past 10 years to 7, 212 in 2025, and people are also waiting longer. The average wait time for a long-term care bed had almost doubled to 290 days by 2024, according to the report, whic
vpd-investigates-strong-arm-robbery-of-senior
BCJul 29, 2025

VPD investigates strong-arm robbery of senior

Vancouver Police have released video of suspects in the alleged strong-arm robbery of an 84-year-old woman downtown on Sunday. The senior was standing near Homer and West Pender Street shortly before 11:30 a.m. on July 27 when she was approached by a man and woman who accused her of stealing from them. One suspect allegedly took the woman’s cane, while the other tried to take the purse off her shoulder. The senior held on to the purse until another person intervened. The suspects were last seen walking north on Homer Street. “Every indication suggests this senior was targeted because s
starmer-says-uk-will-recognize-palestinian-state-unless-israel-agrees-to-a-ceasefire
WorldJul 29, 2025

Starmer says UK will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September – unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps toward long-term peace. Starmer called ministers together for a rare summertime Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. He told them that Britain will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly, “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term

Related News