Far-right Toronto mayoral candidate Faith Goldy cannot force Bell Media to sell her ads on its CP24 television news station, an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday.
The main problem is that Goldy, represented by prominent civil rights lawyer Clayton Ruby, brought her complaint to the wrong court.
The CRTC, which regulates broadcasting in Canada, has an expert tribunal for considering complaints in light of various policies set by Parliament. Goldy knew this, but failed to file a complaint with the CRTC, arguing instead that the Ontario Superior Court should hear the case because of its urgency.
This did not fly with Judge Peter Cavanagh, who heard the emergency motion on Monday and released his 22-page ruling Tuesday morning. He found that the CRTC has “exclusive jurisdiction to grant the relief sought,” and declined to exercise his discretion to intervene.
JOSEPH BREAN – London Free Press – October 16, 2018.