AUGUST 13, 2003

Canadian government will help to keep the Grand Prix

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien (or at least we think it was him) has said that Canada will not be changing its laws related to tobacco advertising, but it will try to find a solution to the problem of the Canadian Grand Prix by establishing a committee to try to save the race. This will be headed by a deputy minister for regional development and will feature representatives from the federal and provincial governments as well as Montreal's tourism bureau and chamber of commerce.

The business community in Montreal has already complained to the government about the loss of the race, which will cost the city something like $50m in revenues. They want the law changed to allow the cars to run with tobacco sponsorship but Chretien says that this is not going to happen.

"The law is the law," said the Prime Minister.