Complaints involving opinion are adjudicated within the context of a 1986 policy statement (updated in 1997) that codified the Ontario Press Council's practice in dealing with opinions as contained in editorials, columns identified as expressing the writer's views and cartoons.

The Council emphasizes that it does not deal with complaints based only on differences of opinion between complainants and newspapers.

Enjoined by Section (a) of its constitution "to defend the freedom of the press on behalf of public and press alike," the Council since its inception has consistently advocated full freedom of public expression in as forceful a way as an individual or newspaper chooses. Since the freedom of the press is an extension of the individual rights to freedom of speech, any diminution of one right diminishes the other.

The Council regards newspaper editorials, columns, critiques, commentaries and editorial cartoons as journalism of opinion and a manifestation of freedom of the press. The Council also believes it is appropriate for newspapers to exercise wide latitude in expressing their opinions in editorials, no matter how controversial or unpopular the opinions may be, and to give columnists and others the same latitude in expressing personal opinions.

In exercising this freedom, newspapers have a responsibility to provide a forum for expression of counter opinions.

The Council will therefore continue to consider complaints involving opinion if complainants contend that they are based on erroneous information or are erroneous in themselves or that the language used was unnecessarily hurtful.

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