THE OLD GUARDIAN — TERMS OF SERVICE

(Last updated: December 2025)

The Old Guardian (“TOG,” “we,” “our,” “I”) is an independent investigative journalism project that publishes reporting, analysis, commentary, FOI-driven findings, and public-interest information. By subscribing, commenting, supporting, or accessing The Old Guardian through Substack or any related platform, you agree to the following:

1. Editorial Independence

All reporting, analysis, commentary, and investigative work is produced independently.
Supporters, subscribers, individuals, organizations, and institutions do not influence editorial decisions, investigative direction, or publication timing.

2. Purpose of Paid Subscriptions

Paid subscriptions exist to support:

• FOI and ATIP filing fees

• document retrieval

• research costs

• time required for investigative work

Paid subscriptions do not purchase exclusive journalism, special access, or behind-the-scenes privileges.
All major investigations remain free for the public.

Support is voluntary and does not create a client relationship.

3. Content Is Provided for Public Interest Purposes

Material published by TOG is:

• informational

• investigative

• evidence-based

• opinionated when clearly stated as such

It is not:

• legal advice

• financial advice

• professional consultation

• medical advice

Readers are responsible for how they use the information.

4. Accuracy, Corrections, and Transparency

Investigations follow the North Star Accord, which prioritizes:

• verified sourcing

• clarity

• documented evidence

• transparent correction of errors

If a factual mistake is identified, TOG will issue a correction openly and promptly.

5. Sensitive Topics and Public Impact

TOG covers issues that may include:

• corporate misconduct

• political decisions

• regulatory failures

• institutional accountability

• environmental harm

Some readers may find certain topics uncomfortable.
Reporting will not be softened or censored due to discomfort, pressure, or external expectations.

6. Copyright & Use of Materials

All original content — including writing, graphics, investigations, FOI documents (except public domain materials), and analysis — is the intellectual property of The Old Guardian.

Without express written permission, you may not:

• copy or republish full posts

• repost investigations elsewhere

• train AI models on TOG content

• sell or redistribute materials

• misrepresent TOG work as your own

Fair use (short quotations with attribution) is allowed.

7. Comments & Community Behaviour

You may disagree, debate, and challenge ideas — this is encouraged.
You may not:

• engage in harassment or personal attacks

• threaten others

• flood the comment section

• impersonate others

• attempt to derail investigative threads

TOG reserves the right to remove comments or block users who behave abusively.

8. Liability Limitations

TOG is not responsible for:

• decisions made by readers based on published content

• third-party links

• inaccuracies in external sources

• damages resulting from reliance on reporting or commentary

All content is provided “as-is.”

9. Subscription & Payment Terms

Payments and billing are managed by Substack.
Subscription cancellations or billing issues must be handled through Substack’s platform.
TOG does not issue refunds except where required by law.

10. Privacy

TOG does not sell, rent, or trade subscriber emails or personal information.
Substack manages email distribution, subscriber identity, and payment data under its own Privacy Policy.

11. Legal Jurisdiction

The Old Guardian operates in Canada.
Any disputes or claims relating to TOG content or subscriptions fall under applicable Canadian federal and provincial law.

12. Updates to These Terms

These Terms may be revised to reflect changes in practice, law, or investigative scope.
Continued use of TOG content implies acceptance of the updated Terms.

If you disagree with these terms, please do not subscribe.

The Old Guardian exists to publish verifiable investigations without fear, favour, or interference.
Readers and supporters who share that commitment are welcome here.