MARCH 10, 1997

... but Canada safe

THE Canadian government last week approved its controversial anti-tobacco law, known as Bill C71, which will restrict sponsorship of sporting events and cultural activities. The political battle over the bill has been fierce as the Canadian tobacco companies are all based in French-dominated Quebec and the law is being championed by English-speaking Canadians.

Last week there was a massive public demonstration against the bill in Montreal which stands to lose not only the Grand Prix but also a number of other international events which it hosts thanks to tobacco money. The most likely outcome is that the law will go through but that international events will be exempted as is the case in Australia and in Italy.