Thread by @cbcjones

It's hard to describe what a contentious issue ownership of these papers used to be. K.C. Irving's purchase of the Gleaner in 1968 triggered hearings, a raid on Irving corporate offices by federal competition authorities and a dramatic star-studded month long trial in 1972.

https://twitter.com/CBCNB/status/1494660158596726785

Buying the Gleaner gave Irving ownership of all five of New Brunswick's english daily newspapers at the time. Various Irving companies were charged with the "formation or operation of a combine" likely to operate "to the detriment or against the interest of the public."

The federal government's Combines Investigation Branch obtained seven warrants to search four Irving offices and three homes for evidence in the case, including K.C. Irving's house in Saint John.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of Canada by then Fredericton lawyer William Hoyt (later chief justice of the New Brunswick court of appeal) and defended by Saint John's Don Gillis and Canada's most famous trial lawyer of the day, John J. Robinette of Toronto.

Witnesses included several national journalism figures including New Brunswick's own Dalton Camp, Le Devoir head and eventual leader of the Quebec Liberal party Claude Ryan, national columnist and political figure Douglas Fisher and Southam Newspaper's St. Clair Balfour the 3rd.

Justice Robichaud took more than a year to render a verdict. He found the Irving companies guilty on most charges of forming a monopoly and levied fines totally $150,000. But he also ruled there was no evidence single ownership of the papers affected the coverage of issues.

Although ruling against the Irving companies for forming a news monopoly at trial Justice Robichaud made a point in his decision to lavish praise on K.C. Irving personally "...whom I consider a great New Brunswicker and an impartial citizen of our province..."

The New Brunswick court of appeal eventually overturned Robichaud's decision, since no harm was identified from the monopoly ownership. Canada's Supreme Court agreed with the court of appeal.

Ironically through all of the investigations and hearings and trials K.C. Irving himself insisted the most important thing with the newspapers is that they be locally owned.

Of course a lot has changed with the profitability and influence of newspapers over 50 years but in New Brunswick, with all of the history involved, the sale of these publications to a national chain by the Irving family is still a big big moment.