OTTAWA – Two Liberal MPs, both committee chairs, are asking the CRTC to review its ruling that bans simultaneous substitution of the upcoming Super Bowl broadcast.
A Toronto Star report says Bob Nault (Kenora, ON) and Wayne Easter (Malpeque, PE) have written to several policy-makers, including Heritage Minister Joly, urging a policy change before the February 5 game. The two say that the decision is costing the Canadian economy tens of millions of dollars and that it will result in the airing of ads for some products that Canadians can’t even buy.
The report says that the duo is considering appealing to Health Canada, which regulates health-related advertisements in the country. One of the arguments raised by those seeking to overturn the CRTC decision is that U.S. broadcasts can feature ads for pharmaceuticals that aren’t allowed in Canada.
Nault said he believes that Health Canada, for instance, has the power to order a pause on CRTC policy: “That’s one option”, he says in the report.
