GM PULLS OUT OF ASC
By Adnews Staff
General Motors has pulled its membership from Advertising Standards Canada because it doesn't agree with its process for handling consumer complaints. GM doesn't like the fact that just one consumer complaint will spark a review by the ASC. Ads are reviewed by the ASC against the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards and/or the Gender Portrayal Guidelines. Advertisers are notified if the ad violates the codes and are asked to change or withdraw the ad. If the ad was not changed or withdrawn, the complaints and the advertiser's name would be published. GM was not one of the advertisers named in the 1997 report, but one of its dealers in Quebec were. Theberge Pontiac Buick had complaints on two ads that were judged to exploit sexuality.