TD CAMPAIGN MAY BE ILLEGAL
By Adnews Staff
Toronto Dominion Bank says it hasn't done anything wrong but the Bank of Canada says this may not be so. TD launched an ad campaign on Oct. 10 using realistic, close-up reproductions of portions of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. The Bank of Canada says this campaign could be against the law under section 457 of the Criminal Code. "We have a detailed study of the law and we have complied in all respects," financial services vice-president Christine Thompson told Adnews this week. When asked if TD would stop running the ads if asked to do so by the Bank of Canada, Thompson just repeated that the company was in full compliance of the law. The Bank of Canada is currently reviewing the campaign to see if any laws have been broken, currency research officer Micheline Lefebvre told Adnews this week. It will take a few weeks to decide if it is going to demand that TD stop running the ads. The campaign uses TV, print and billboards created by TBWA Chiat/Day's Toronto office. The law prohibiting the reproduction of money was put in place to prevent counterfeiting.