Supreme Court to rule on protection of news sources

The Supreme Court of Canada rules Friday in a case which bears on the right of journalists to shield confidential sources. The National Post and former Post reporter Andrew McIntosh are asking the court to quash a search warrant issued almost a decade ago as part of what became known as the Shawinigate affair. At stake is McIntosh's guarantee of confidentiality to a source known only as X, who sent the reporter a key document which was later denounced as a forgery. In 2000, McIntosh was investigating ties between then-prime minister Jean Chretien and the Grand-Mere Inn, a resort in his home riding. McIntosh reported that Chretien had urged the Business Development Bank of Canada to lend money to the inn.