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De Facto Journalism Co-op

@defactomedia.ca
657 followers 22 following 106 posts

Interrogate power. Highlight truth. We are a non-profit, journalist-owned co-operative in British Columbia, Canada. www.defactomedia.ca Subscribe to our newsletter: www.defactomedia.ca/newsletters

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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 16h
Canada’s drug policy violates its Charter, BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray ruled on Tuesday, by making it de facto illegal to run a compassion club providing tested illicit drugs. Read the full breakdown of her decision, by @godfrey.work: www.defactomedia.ca/breaking-dul...
defactomedia.ca
BREAKING: DULF founders’ trafficking charges thrown out in BC Supreme Court ruling on constitutional challenge
Justice Catherine Murray applauds Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum, declares a section of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act unconstitutional
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Michelle Cyca @michellecyca.com · 19h
huge victory for DULF — also a great day to support @defactomedia.ca which has excellent coverage of this case
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 19h
We have a full story from Dustin on the DULF decision coming up Subscribe to the De Facto newsletter to get it as soon as it's out: www.defactomedia.ca/newsletters/ bsky.app/profile/godf...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 20h
Today, charges against DULF's founders were tossed out by a BC Supreme Court decision Yesterday, we covered how docs in trial evidence show Vancouver police pushed to bring those charges — even when a Crown prosecutor questioned whether it was in the public interest
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dustin @godfrey.work · 21h
this is a huge decision. story coming for @defactomedia.ca
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dustin @godfrey.work · 21h
BREAKING: Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx's charges are being thrown out. she said they did a public service "at considerable personal cost."
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dustin @godfrey.work · 21h
she's directing parliament to address these issues, and she won't give a 12-month pause on declaring it unconstitutional — opting, instead, for six months — because we are in a public health crisis.
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dustin @godfrey.work · 21h
and there was no real avenue for DULF to get approved to operate legally through s. 56 of the CDSA. she finds s. 7 of the charter was violated and that declaring s. 5(2) of the CDSA is unconstitutional.
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dustin @godfrey.work · 21h
i'm in BC Supreme Court waiting to hear the ruling from Justice Catherine Murray, who is making findings: a non-medicalized safe supply program is desperately needed, the DULF compassion club didn't cause any harm, and there wasn't any licit supply for DULF to access
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dustin @godfrey.work · 28/09/2026
and while DULF's lawyers argued the VPD should have simply gone to DULF to tell them to shut down rather than charging them, records show VPD had to convince prosecutors to approve charges — and they expended considerable resources trying to get more serious charges
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dustin @godfrey.work · 28/09/2026
a senior officer met with them in Aug 2021 and while he preferred a legal compassion club, he also didn't exactly discourage them from running one without legal approvals that same officer was the one who recommended approving an investigation into the compassion club two years later
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dustin @godfrey.work · 28/09/2026
with a decision expected tomorrow in the constitutional challenge against DULF's criminal charges, i did a deep dive for @defactomedia.ca into internal VPD documents to look at how their relationship with DULF changed so dramatically www.defactomedia.ca/how-vancouve...
defactomedia.ca
How Vancouver police turned against DULF
Court records show the same inspector who encouraged the compassion club’s founders also approved the investigation that led to raids on their homes
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 28/09/2026
A Vancouver cop told DULF’s founders he would personally advocate for them. 2 years later, he approved the investigation that led to raids on their homes. www.defactomedia.ca/how-vancouve...
defactomedia.ca
How Vancouver police turned against DULF
Court records show the same inspector who encouraged the compassion club’s founders also approved the investigation that led to raids on their homes
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Trudi @trudiagogo.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Did you know @defactomedia.ca launched a radio program on Vancouver co-op radio? Add these investigative journalists to your weekly listening diet: coopradio.org/shows/de-fac... #Vancouver #BC
coopradio.org
De Facto Radio - Vancouver Co-operative Radio
Interrogate power. Highlight truth.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 19/09/2026
Today at 11am PT we're launching De Facto Radio on 100.5FM in Vancouver Ep1: Canada's spy agency shares sensitive intel to corporations—with @writermjs.bsky.social & @zakvescera.bsky.social • Saturdays 100.5FM & live: coopradio.org/shows/de-fac... • Podcasts on demand: www.defactomedia.ca/radio/
defactomedia.ca
De Facto Radio
We broadcast live on Saturdays 11-11:30am PT, and podcast online
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 11/09/2026
Word of the day from @dictionarycom.bsky.social 🤩 www.dictionary.com/browse/de-fa...
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dustin @godfrey.work · 31/08/2026
I wrote in the latest @defactomedia.ca newsletter about the labour costs in doing accountability journalism. my last piece for De Facto took hours of work, from the original FOI requests to going through thousands of pages of court documents to... www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/h...
defactomedia.ca
How we found emails police claimed didn't exist
The challenges & costs of freedom-of-info reporting
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Rumneek Johal @rumneeek.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Exclusive, from me, following a CBSA raid at a peaceful protest in Calgary, where international students say they had the rules quietly changed on them in the middle of their education. The raid comes amid rising anti-immigrant and anti-international student sentiment in Canada
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Zak Vescera @zakvescera.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Calgary police have used Palantir's software for 13 years. Now they're trying to replace it, citing "prohibitive costs." They won't say how much they paid Palantir. In the meantime, they're paying a U.S. military contractor to keep the system running. theijf.org/article/calg...
theijf.org
Why Calgary police are trying to ditch Palantir
Service says “prohibitive costs” of contract have sparked push for replacement
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 26/08/2026
New newsletter: A first-person photo essay from the front lines of BC's biggest wildfire Plus: Vancouver overdose prevention site axed, as BC adds 138 more toxic drug deaths. www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/m...
defactomedia.ca
My time fighting BC’s wildfires
Plus: Overdose prevention site axed. Cop guilty of breach of trust. 138 more toxic drug deaths.
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Harbinger Media Network @harbingermedia.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Did you know? Four new publications are joining Unrigged's cross-country community today! ⭐ legacy queer media @xtramagazine.com ⭐ local journalism initiative Documentalistes Canada ⭐ journalist co-op @defactomedia.ca ⭐ one-stop LGBTQ2S+ health info at Script Health Find out more at unrigged.ca
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 20/08/2026
ICYMI: 10 stories on homelessness, policing, & drug use in BC & Canada Read them in the thread below or in our latest newsletter: www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/p...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 19/08/2026
New newsletter: -Unhoused woman sues city over impounded property -53 police-involved deaths this year -Feds buried safe supply report -BC's top Mountie out over allegations -Vancouver's $400,000+ ballot questions www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/p...
defactomedia.ca
Unhoused woman sues city over impounded property
53 police-involved deaths this year. Feds buried safe supply report. BC's top Mountie out over allegations. Vancouver's $400,000+ ballot questions.
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Unrigged @unrigged.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Did you know? Four new publications are joining Unrigged's cross-country community today! ⭐ legacy queer media @xtramagazine.com ⭐ local journalism initiative Documentalistes Canada ⭐ journalist co-op @defactomedia.ca ⭐ one-stop LGBTQ2S+ health info at Script Health Find out more at unrigged.ca
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dustin @godfrey.work · 12/08/2026
please consider subscribing for a monthly, annual or one-time donation to support our work: www.defactomedia.ca#/portal/
defactomedia.ca
De Facto Journalism Co-op
Interrogate power. Highlight truth.
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dustin @godfrey.work · 12/08/2026
for myself, I'm keeping up some of the work I was doing with Filter, and more, with @defactomedia.ca. but we need support to be sustainable — journalism takes time, energy, resources, and often money to pay for various parts of our reporting (eg., court documents), not to mention for our labour.
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dustin @godfrey.work · 12/08/2026
I'm sorry to see this resource lost. Filter was a reliable space for good harm reduction reporting and a regular landing spot for my freelance work, with a fantastic editor to work with in Will. Support independent journalism that challenges power.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 07/08/2026
5) Tenants plan legal action against Vancouver after affordable apartments rezoned by ABC majority Coun. Bligh said it "risks homelessness" for Myron Manor tenants to lose low-cost units (eg $1300 for 2bed) Hotel rooms won't give them Broadway Plan's usual right-to-return bsky.app/profile/madd...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 06/08/2026
1) BC involuntary care policy found unconstitutional BC Supreme Court gave province 6 months to fix parts of Mental Health Act that "unjustifiably infringe" on rights of those w/ mental health disorders by granting medical directors "blanket power" in forced care www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/b...
defactomedia.ca
BC involuntary care policy found unconstitutional
Post Facto: Police at Pride. Vic seeks more homelessness info. Protest coverage lawsuits. Losing housing.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 06/08/2026
10 stories from last week in Canada on policing, homelessness, drug policy, legal battles, & more Read them in our latest newsletter www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/b... or the thread below:
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 06/08/2026
10 stories from last week in Canada on policing, homelessness, drug policy, legal battles, & more Read them in our latest newsletter www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/b... or the thread below:
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 05/08/2026
NEWSLETTER: -BC involuntary care policy found unconstitutional -Police back at Vancouver Pride -Vic wants homelessness database -Lawsuits over Palestine protest coverage -Losing housing, risking homelessness www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/b...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
7) Toronto-headquartered Thompson Reuters to sign $125M deal with ICE It would share data to monitor for supposed voter & immigration fraud bsky.app/profile/nati...
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The Serfs (youtube.com/theserfstv) @theserfstv.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
RCMP intentionally set home ablaze during wellness check
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
10) City of Vancouver severance payouts skyrocketed to $6M in last year's public service cuts, new document shows vancouversun.com/news/an-extr...
vancouversun.com
'An extraordinary spike': Vancouver spent $6 million on severance agreements last year, newly obtained document reveals
The way city hall is now slashing jobs, through both voluntary buyouts and involuntary layoffs, is costly and reckless, ABC's political opponents say.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
9) Winnipeg police criticized for “reconciliation” cruiser with Indigenous art It was launched a month ago amid anti-drug sweeps that disproportionately affected Indigenous locals indiginews.com/winnipeg/win...
indiginews.com
Winnipeg police unveil a ‘reconciliation’ police cruiser — but critics are unimpressed
Force says the police car emblazoned with Indigenous art not for enforcement but education. Advocates say the gesture is ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘unsettling’ — especially amidst a drug-use crackdown they ...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
5) Reform towards wards thwarts restored board SD61's board was fired over reluctance to add police liaisons, & a BC-appointed trustee took over The board was reinstated after scandalous texts emerged, but can't stop the trustee's swap to ward-based elections www.timescolonist.com/local-news/g...
timescolonist.com
Greater Victoria school trustees say they can’t overturn move to ward-style system
The change was approved by Education Minister Lisa Beare in January, before the trustees were reinstated.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
3) RCMP set Chilliwack home on fire during 2023 wellness check & standoff A court decision revealed officers chose to ignite the home to kill or capture an armed man in crisis — despite the ammo inside & proximity to 31 houses, a seniors’ community, & Skowkale reserve www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
ctvnews.ca
RCMP officers ‘intentionally’ set home ablaze during tense standoff, court documents reveal
A house fire that erupted during an armed standoff in B.C.’s Lower Mainland three years ago was “intentionally” ignited by RCMP officers on scene, court documents have revealed.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
2. BC Supreme Court halts eviction of Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club for 6 months, as it waits on judicial review The province raided the 30-year-old club this spring & has pursued civil forfeiture against its landlord, while seeking $3.2M in past fines www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
timescolonist.com
Victoria Cannabis Club can stay in storefront for six months
On Monday, the club won a court injunction pressing pause on the landlord’s eviction notice. The province is seeking an order that the property be forfeited.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
10 Canadian stories from last week on policing, legal battles, & transparency 1. Drug User Liberation Front trial closes, but no decision likely until 2027 DULF co-founders are constitutionally challenging their possession-for-trafficking charges www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/d... More in thread:
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 30/07/2026
10 Canadian stories from last week on policing, legal battles, & transparency 1. Drug User Liberation Front trial closes, but no decision likely until 2027 DULF co-founders are constitutionally challenging their possession-for-trafficking charges www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/d... More in thread:
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Crackdown podcast @crackdownpod.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
🚨 Oh my God we're back again! 🚨 Sam & Garth share good news about the future of the show! Then we discuss Elanore Sturko, Vaughn Palmer and Tristin Hopper’s claims that fewer people died from ODs in Canada because BC abandoned harm reduction. Are they right? (No). www.patreon.com/crackdownpod...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 29/07/2026
NEW NEWSLETTER: -DULF trial closes -RCMP set house on fire -Class action over AI in prisons -Canadian deals with ICE & Raytheon -Compassion club fights eviction -Reform towards wards thwarts restored board www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/d...
defactomedia.ca
DULF trial ends, but no decision expected soon
Post Facto: RCMP set home on fire. AI racism in prisons? ICE & Raytheon deals. Compassion club fights eviction. Reform towards wards thwarts restored board.
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 29/07/2026
NEW NEWSLETTER: -DULF trial closes -RCMP set house on fire -Class action over AI in prisons -Canadian deals with ICE & Raytheon -Compassion club fights eviction -Reform towards wards thwarts restored board www.defactomedia.ca/newsletter/d...
defactomedia.ca
DULF trial ends, but no decision expected soon
Post Facto: RCMP set home on fire. AI racism in prisons? ICE & Raytheon deals. Compassion club fights eviction. Reform towards wards thwarts restored board.
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dustin @godfrey.work · 28/07/2026
I've had the privilege of working with Emma over the last 2+ years in launching @defactomedia.ca both in an organizational capacity and in co-authoring two pieces in De Facto's first series. If you've got work that needs doing, I highly recommend working with Emma!
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 24/07/2026
We spoke to 2 transparency experts about: -Police's “mandate of secrecy & confidentiality” -How group chats are used to evade FOI searches -The Christy Clark govt's “triple-delete” scandal -The state of transparency in BC, and whether penalties could improve it www.defactomedia.ca/interview-fi...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 24/07/2026
“You start wondering whether there was mal intent or just incompetence. Neither [one] is good from a public accountability perspective” Transparency experts weigh in on how public trust is eroded by “secrecy & information control” by police & other public bodies www.defactomedia.ca/interview-fi...
defactomedia.ca
Transparency advocates on police ‘culture of confidentiality and secrecy’
A conversation with BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association's leaders about Vancouver top cops' claims to have no emails about Drug User Liberation Front before they raided — emails we later...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 24/07/2026
“You start wondering whether there was mal intent or just incompetence. Neither [one] is good from a public accountability perspective” Transparency experts weigh in on how public trust is eroded by “secrecy & information control” by police & other public bodies www.defactomedia.ca/interview-fi...
defactomedia.ca
Transparency advocates on police ‘culture of confidentiality and secrecy’
A conversation with BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association's leaders about Vancouver top cops' claims to have no emails about Drug User Liberation Front before they raided — emails we later...
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 14/07/2026
VPD claimed no emails went "to or from" senior cops about DULF ahead of their Oct 2023 raid But emails sent to 2 officers were included in evidence in the resulting trial How did police justify not revealing those emails? By saying the officers were only CC'd www.defactomedia.ca/vpd-emails-f...
defactomedia.ca
VPD claimed no emails sent to or from senior cops about compassion club ahead of raid. That’s untrue
Freedom-of-information advocates say force's non-response likely broke BC’s transparency law — and ask if Vancouver police should undergo ‘greater scrutiny’ for public transparency
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De Facto Journalism Co-op @defactomedia.ca · 14/07/2026
VPD claimed no emails went "to or from" senior cops about DULF ahead of their Oct 2023 raid But emails sent to 2 officers were included in evidence in the resulting trial How did police justify not revealing those emails? By saying the officers were only CC'd www.defactomedia.ca/vpd-emails-f...
defactomedia.ca
VPD claimed no emails sent to or from senior cops about compassion club ahead of raid. That’s untrue
Freedom-of-information advocates say force's non-response likely broke BC’s transparency law — and ask if Vancouver police should undergo ‘greater scrutiny’ for public transparency
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