CanWest drops libel suit against The Tyee

Canwest Global Communications Corporation has dropped a libel suit against The Tyee online newspaper, based in Vancouver. It concerned a column by Rafe Mair published in December 2007, found to contain a factual error and later removed and corrected. According to a story carried today on the blog The Hook, published by the Tyee, the paper published apologies on December 27 and later on January 17.

A subsequent defamation suit has now been settled, before any examination for discovery or a trial. The settlement consisted of the Tyee paying legal costs to date and a modest charitable contribution in the name of the Pacific Newspaper Group.

“We’re glad to have the suit behind us,” said [Tyee editor David] Beers. “It frees us to focus on producing the best journalism possible during a very busy political season.”