Expressive freedom and tobacco advertising: a Canadian perspective.
In 1989, Canada enacted the Tobacco Products Control Act (TPCA), which prohibited tobacco advertising, required health warnings on tobacco packaging, and restricted promotional activities. Canada's tobacco companies challenged the TPCA's constitutionality, arguing that it infringed on freedom of expression. Although it seemed likely that the Canadian Supreme Court would uphold the legislation, in 1995 the court declared the impugned provisions to be unconstitutional. The decision is testimony to the constraining force of liberalism on tobacco regulation, but it is also evidence of the power of political will. While the Canadian government could have used the decision to justify withdrawing from further confrontations with powerful commercial interests, it chose instead to enact new tobacco control legislation in 1997.
Manfredi
Christopher P
CP
Department of Political Science, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H31 2T7. christopher.manfredi@mcgill.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000329:Advertising / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002170:Canada; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D008192:Deception; D005610:Freedom; D006801:Humans; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011057:Politics; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D013060:Speech; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*