create report which seeks to answer the question posed in the title.

To begin, you will need to know what a "SLAPP" is. Read the description from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association below.

What is a SLAPP suit?

SLAPP stands for "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" or "Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation". In essence, SLAPPs are lawsuits, or the threat of a lawsuit, directed against individuals or organizations, in order to silence and deter their public criticisms and advocacy for change. Although SLAPPs can take a variety of forms, many come in the form of a legal action for defamation or libel or for other civil claims including interference with contractual relations. SLAPPs generally lack merit and are not likely to succeed in court. The goal of the party bringing the lawsuit is generally not to win a case, but to silence their critics.

The lawsuit is started by a plaintiff which may be an individual or group (including a corporation) in order to intimidate those who criticize or question the plaintiff's behavior or stance with respect to certain public interest issues. The critics (defendants in the lawsuit) have to redirect their energies to defending the lawsuit. In light of the time, resources and stress that can accompany being sued, the defendants may be encouraged to simply stop expressing their views and critical assessments of the plaintiff(s). The lawsuit may also have the effect of dissuading others from speaking out and exercising their own rights to express themselves and participate in the democratic process. This is sometimes referred to as the "chilling effect".

Read the letter below. This was addressed to Attorney General David Eby in 2018, and signed by many former BC politicians and various legal authorities. The letter asks Eby to create legislation which will discourage these lawsuits which the authors of the letter see as violating our rights to freedom of expression and public participation.

https://wcln.ca/_LOR/course_files/LAW12/assignments/Anti-SLAPP-Letter-February-7-003.pdf

Create an outline for your report. It will have the following sections:

1. Introduction - Here, you will define SLAPP and will quote the definition given above. It will include your thesis, which is the answer to the question posed in the title of this assignment.
2. Respond to the letter written to Eby. You will need to directly quote the letter at least once.
3. Provide one or more examples of a SLAPP filed in BC that you have researched. Respond to or explain your example(s).
4. Conclusion - Justify your position on the issue based on the evidence you have provided. Explain the consequences of anti-SLAPP legislation as you see it.

Write the report from your outline. It will include a title as well as works cited and will be formatted with headings according to the four sections above. It will include at least one image and one external link.