Coincidentally with the reference to Francis Collins, pioneer in the fight for freedom of the Press in Canada, referred to in another item in this issue of the Canadian Vindicator e-zine, comes publication of the annual survey of press freedom in 167 countries by Reporters Without Borders.

Collins would be disappointed with Canada's ranking in the 2004 report issued on October 26.

In total it shows a drop of 8 points for his adopted country, from No. 10 in the survey's index to No. 18.

However, Collins would be pleased to note his native country placed at the top of the survey, along with another Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.

Down at the bottom of the index are Turkmenistan, Burma, Cuba and North Korea in which "an independent media either does not exist or journalists are persecuted and censored on a daily basis", according to the survey's findings.

The United States and Belgium were both placed 4 points behind Canada.

According to the annual report of the organization, 2003 was a "black year" for journalists worldwide, with 42 reporters killed and more than 120 others still imprisoned. As many as 766 other reporters were arrested, at least 1,460 physically attacked or threatened and 501 media censored. "Nearly a third of the world's people live in countries without press freedom."

It will be recalled that Collins, persecuted by the Family Compact, was imprisoned in Toronto on October 29, 1828, following a trial filled with legal irregularities, a trial which still stains the Canadian conscience to this day.

Maintaining freedom of the press remains a vital struggle. All Canadians have a part to play in that struggle.

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