SASKATOON – Senator Pana Merchant and her husband, lawyer Tony Merchant, have launched a libel lawsuit against the CBC.
A statement of claim filed in Saskatoon Court of Queen’s Bench involves a CBC story about Tony Merchant’s offshore bank account worth $1.7 million.
The Merchants allege the broadcaster “cut and spliced interviews” to portray them in the worst possible light, and they say the story suggested they’d been involved in unlawful conduct amounting to tax evasion.
The statement of claim, which contains allegations not proven in court, also alleges the story gave the impression that Sen. Merchant had breached Senate rules.
The head of media relations for the CBC, Chuck Thompson, says the broadcaster has received a notice of libel, not a lawsuit, and is taking it under review.
A call to Tony Merchant’s office was not returned.
The claim also names two CBC reporters and a journalist with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in Washington, D.C.
