CWA Canada stands with photojournalist Amber Bracken

OTTAWA (Jan. 16, 2026) – Media Union CWA Canada proudly reiterates its support for photojournalist Amber Bracken as the first week of court hearings into her lawsuit against the RCMP wraps up.

Bracken’s unjust arrest while covering an indigenous protest for The Narwal in northern B.C. in 2021 should outrage all Canadians who believe in freedom of the press.

CWA Canada President Carmel Smyth called the incident “shameful and unCanadian.”

“That’s why CWA Canada, the union for media and communication workers across Canada, supports Ms. Bracken as she fights for the right to press freedom.”

Bracken was documenting protests over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through Wet’suwet’en territory. The RCMP arrested her, claiming she was “aiding or abetting” protesters. In fact, she was simply doing her job taking photos of police arresting protesters.

Bracken and The Narwhal are suing the RCMP for breaching their constitutionally protected rights as journalists. The trial began Monday and is expected to last five weeks.

You can read Bracken’s account of the incident here: https://thenarwhal.ca/opinion-amber-bracken-rcmp-arrest/