Privileged reports
3 (1) A fair and accurate report in a newspaper or in a broadcast of any of the following proceedings that are open to the public is privileged, unless it is proved that the publication thereof was made maliciously: 1. The proceedings of any legislative body or any part or committee thereof in the British Commonwealth that may exercise any sovereign power acquired by delegation or otherwise. 2. The proceedings of any administrative body that is constituted by any public authority in Canada. 3. The proceedings of any commission of inquiry that is constituted by any public authority in the Commonwealth. 4. The proceedings of any organization whose members, in whole or in part, represent any public authority in Canada.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (1). Idem (2) A fair and accurate report in a newspaper or in a broadcast of the proceedings of a meeting lawfully held for a lawful purpose and for the furtherance of discussion of any matter of public concern, whether the admission thereto is general or restricted, is privileged, unless it is proved that the publication thereof was made maliciously.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (2). Publicity releases (3) The whole or a part of a fair and accurate synopsis in a newspaper or in a broadcast of any report, bulletin, notice or other document issued for the information of the public by or on behalf of any body, commission or organization mentioned in subsection (1) or any meeting mentioned in subsection (2) is privileged, unless it is proved that the publication thereof was made maliciously.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (3). Decisions, etc., of certain types of association (4) A fair and accurate report in a newspaper or in a broadcast of the findings or decision of any of the following associations, or any part or committee thereof, being a finding or decision relating to a person who is a member of or is subject, by virtue of any contract, to the control of the association, is privileged, unless it is proved that the publication thereof was made maliciously: 1. An association formed in Canada for the purpose of promoting or encouraging the exercise of or interest in any art, science, religion or learning, and empowered by its constitution to exercise control over or adjudicate upon matters of interest or concern to the association, or the actions or conduct of any persons subject to such control or adjudication. 2. An association formed in Canada for the purpose of promoting or safeguarding the interests of any trade, business, industry or profession, or of the persons carrying on or engaged in any trade, business, industry or profession, and empowered by its constitution to exercise control over or adjudicate upon matters connected with the trade, business, industry or profession. 3. An association formed in Canada for the purpose of promoting or safeguarding the interests of any game, sport or pastime to the playing or exercising of which members of the public are invited or admitted, and empowered by its constitution to exercise control over or adjudicate upon persons connected with or taking part in the game, sport or pastime.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (4). Improper matter (5) Nothing in this section authorizes any blasphemous, seditious or indecent matter in a newspaper or in a broadcast.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (5). Saving (6) Nothing in this section limits or abridges any privilege now by law existing or protects the publication of any matter not of public concern or the publication of which is not for the public benefit.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (6). When defendant refuses to publish explanation (7) The protection afforded by this section is not available as a defence in an action for libel if the plaintiff shows that the defendant refused to insert in the newspaper or to broadcast, as the case may be, a reasonable statement of explanation or contradiction by or on behalf of the plaintiff.  R.S.O. 1990, c. L.12, s. 3 (7).