Attack Ads, Copyright, and Collusion: Have Canada's Major Broadcasters Violated the Competition Act?

Ariel Katz
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Canada's first (and the world's first) competition act: the Combines Act of 1889
Originally posted on Prof. Katz's blog. 

Last week reports emerged that the Government is considering a new copyright exception for political advertising. The reports suggested that the exception would permit the use of news content by political parties without authorization. While most of the media coverage of this story focused on the copyright issue and the phenomenon of attack ads, documents that Sun Media obtained from the CBC (under an Access to Information request) reveal an even more interesting and more important story, both politically and legally. These documents, offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Canada's major media organization, reveal a picture of a concerted action between the majority of Canada's news outlets, action that might run afoul the Competition Act. 

Getting into UofT Law - JD Admissions

JD Admissions visits UofT Department of Criminology

JD AdmissionsGet the inside scoop on applying to our JD program directly from the Faculty of Law Admissions Office and hear from current law students. 

Learn about our whole-person admission process and how to improve your application to our JD program. 

Prof. Yasmin Dawood co-authors open letter calling for withdrawal of Fair Elections Act

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Prof. Yasmin Dawood has co-authored, with several other academics from across Canada, an open letter to the Government of Canada about the Fair Elections Act that calls on the government to withdraw the bill. This open letter follows an earlier one co-authored by Prof. Dawood that expressed concerns about the Act and was signed by 160 professors from across Canada in various relevant disciplines. The second letter has been signed by an even larger number of professors.

Democracy at Stake panel says Fair Elections Act violates basic principles, voter fraud is not an issue

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

‘Repercussions beyond Canada’s borders’ if the Act passes

By Sandra Bartlett

The proposed Fair Elections Act is flawed legislation that will weaken democracy in Canada.Prof. Yasmin Dawood speaks at podium during panel  

Prof. Yasmin Dawood co-authors reply to minister Poilievre about Fair Elections Act

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Prof. Yasmin Dawood has co-authored a commentary in The Globe and Mail replying to a commentary by Minister of State for Democratic Reform Pierre Poilievre that defended the Fair Elections Act. The commenary by Prof. Dawood and her co-authors notes several continued areas of concern about the act ("Criticism of Elections Act is legitimate, and should not be brushed off," March 25, 2014).

Prof. Yasmin Dawood co-authors open letter about Fair Elections Act

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Prof. Yasmin Dawood is a co-author, along with Monique Deveaux, Melissa Williams, Maxwell Cameron, Patti Lenard, and Genevieve Fuji Johnson, of an open letter to the Government of Canada regarding the proposed Fair Elections Act. The letter notes several serious concerns about the proposed provisions in the Act.

Public Forum: Democracy At Stake? Debating the Fair Elections Act

How would the proposed Fair Elections Act affect your right to vote? What are the benefits of the Act? What are its drawbacks? How would the Act change elections? How would it affect the state of Canadian democracy in the future? Come and hear a panel of six experts debate these important issues.

Prof. David Schneiderman and 2L Matthew Burns: “A recipe for deadlock”

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Prof. David Schneiderman and second-year JD student Matthew Burns have written a commentary in the National Post looking at the potential impact of the Supreme Court of Canada's upcoming decision on the constitutional requirements to reform the Senate ("A recipe for deadlock," November 13, 2013).

Read the full commentary on the National Post website, or below.

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