SOUTHAM SEEKS APPEAL
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Southam Inc. is trying to have overturned a Federal Court of Appeal decision that would submit the company to another investigation of whether it is setting up a news monopoly in B.C. Southam is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal of the lower court decision that requires the federal Competition Tribunal to review its 1992 decision allowing the publisher to take control of a Vancouver newspaper group. In 1989 and 1990 Southam bought a controlling interest in 13 community newspapers, a real estate advertising publication and several distribution and printing businesses in Vancouver and surrounding communities. Three years ago the Competition Tribunal turned down a request by the Competition Bureau for an order forcing Southam to sell two of the papers in the group, the Vancouver Courier and the North Shore News. Southam already owned two Vancouver dailies, The Sun and The Province. The bureau felt that allowing Southam to control the two community publications would lessen competition for advertising in B.C.'s lower mainland. Mr. Justice Joseph Robertson said the tribunal did not review all the evidence to see if the purchase would substantially lessen competition.