Article content

A right-wing news outlet has been banned from government press events in Alberta, because the governing NDP doesn’t consider it a “journalistic source,” Premier Rachel Notley’s office said Tuesday.

The Rebel, launched by divisive commentator Ezra Levant last year, announced plans this week to sue the province after its reporters were allegedly barred from three recent events — including a press conference with the premier and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this month.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Alberta NDP calls review of media policy amid backlash for banning Ezra Levant's The Rebel from press briefings Back to video

In a letter to the premier’s office last week, The Rebel’s lawyer offered to forego legal action if the government agreed to allow its reporters access in the future. But the government refused to comply.

“Our client’s position remains that your client (The Rebel) and those who identify as being connected to (The Rebel) are not journalists and are not entitled to access media lock-ups or other such events,” reads a response from an Alberta Ministry of Justice lawyer, posted by The Rebel.