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Category Corporate Date 3/14/2007 |
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DTCA Legal Challenge
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On March 13, 2007, CanWest MediaWorks Inc filed an application for judicial review on the basis that the Minister of Health and the Attorney General of Canada have failed to investigate and prosecute breaches of the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, as well as applicable regulations, which prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medicines in Canada. CanWest seeks an order compelling the Government of Canada to enforce its own rules with respect to DTCA.
In its application, CanWest submits that U.S. media regularly and repeatedly advertise prescription drugs in Canada through internet portals, print publications and cable and satellite television that are available to Canadians living in Canada. Identical advertisements for identical products are illegal if made available by Canadians to Canadians living in Canada.
CanWest’s application is consistent with its application to the Ontario Superior Court, in December 2005, asking the Court to strike down the current federal statute and regulations restricting DTCA, on the basis they violate Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Filings to support this application will be made by CanWest MediaWorks in the coming weeks.
About CanWest MediaWorks Inc.
CanWest MediaWorks Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications Corp, (CanWest) (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS and CGS.A, www.canwestglobal.com). CanWest, an international media company, is Canada’s largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television network, CanWest is Canada’s largest publisher of daily newspapers, and also owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom
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