6(1)On the trial of an action for defamation, the jury may give a general verdict on the whole matter in issue in the action and shall not be required or directed to find for the plaintiff merely on proof of publication by the defendant of the alleged defamation and of the sense ascribed to it in the action.

6(2)According to its discretion, the court shall give its opinion and directions to the jury on the matter in issue as in other cases.

6(3)If they think fit to do so, the jury may find a special verdict on the matter in issue in the action.

6(4)The proceedings after verdict, whether general or special, shall be the same as in other cases.

7(1)On an application by two or more defendants in two or more actions brought by the same person for the same or substantially the same defamation, the court may make an order for the consolidation of the actions so that they shall be tried together.

7(2)After an order has been made under subsection (1) and before the trial of the actions, the defendants in any new actions, instituted in respect of any such defamation, shall be also entitled to be joined in a common action on a joint application by the new defendants and the defendants in the actions already consolidated.

8(1)In a consolidated action under section 7, the court or jury shall assess the whole amount of the damages, if any, in one sum, but a separate verdict shall be given for or against each defendant in the same way as if the actions consolidated had been tried separately.

8(2)If the court or jury gives a verdict against defendants in more than one of the consolidated actions, it shall apportion the amount of the damages between and against those defendants.

8(3)If the plaintiff is awarded the costs of the action, the judge shall make the order that the judge considers just for the apportionment of the costs between and against the defendants.

9(1)If the defendant published alleged defamatory matter that is an opinion expressed by another person, a defence of fair comment shall not fail for the reason only that the defendant did not hold the opinion if

9(2)For the purpose of this section, the defendant is not under a duty to inquire into whether the person expressing the opinion does or does not hold the opinion.

10(1)A fair and accurate report of any of the following that is published in a newspaper or by broadcasting shall be privileged, unless it is proved that the publication was made maliciously:

10(2)The publication in a newspaper or by broadcasting, at the request of a government department, bureau or office or public officer, of a report, bulletin, notice or other document issued for the information of the public shall be privileged, unless it is proved that the publication was made maliciously.

10(3)Nothing in this section applies to the publication of seditious, blasphemous or indecent matter.

10(4)Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if,

10(5)Nothing in this section limits or abridges any privilege now by law existing, or applies to the publication of any matter not of public concern or the publication of which is not for the public benefit.

11(1)A fair and accurate report, published in a newspaper or by broadcasting, of proceedings publicly heard before any court shall be absolutely privileged if

11(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if,

14(1)The action shall be tried in the county where the chief office of the newspaper or of the owner or operator of the broadcasting station is situated, or in the county in which the plaintiff resides at the time the action is brought.

14(2)Despite subsection (1), on the application of either party, the court may direct the action to be tried, or the damages to be assessed, in any other county if it appears to be in the interests of justice, and may impose those terms as to payment of attendance money and otherwise that the court considers proper.

15(1)The defendant may prove in mitigation of damages that the defamatory matter was inserted in the newspaper or was broadcast without actual gross negligence, and that before the commencement of the action, or at the earliest opportunity afterwards, the defendant

15(2)The defendant may prove in mitigation of damages that the plaintiff has already brought action for, has recovered damages or has received or agreed to receive compensation in respect of defamation to the same purport or effect as that for which action is brought.

16(1)The plaintiff shall recover only special damages if it appears on the trial

16(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to the case of defamation against a candidate for public office unless the retraction and apology are made editorially in the newspaper in a conspicuous manner or broadcast, as the case may require, at least five days before the election.

17(1)No defendant in an action for defamation published in a newspaper shall be entitled to the benefit of section 16 unless the name of the proprietor and publisher and address of publication are stated in a conspicuous place in the newspaper.

17(2)The production of a printed copy of a newspaper shall be proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, of the publication of the printed copy and of the truth of the statements mentioned in subsection (1).

17(3)When a person, by registered letter containing that person’s address and addressed to a broadcasting station, alleges that defamation against that person has been broadcast from the station and requests the name and address of the owner or operator of the station, or the names and addresses of the owner and the operator of the station, section 16 shall not apply with respect to an action by that person against the owner or operator for the alleged defamation unless the person whose name and address are so requested delivers the requested information to the first mentioned person, or mails it by registered letter addressed to that person, within ten days after the date on which the first mentioned registered letter is received at the broadcasting station.