Review for PotashCorp bid delayed
REGINA — An independent analysis that the Saskatchewan government requested on the proposed takeover of PotashCorp has been delayed. The Conference Board of Canada review was due Thursday, but will now be made public online on Monday. Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd says the Ottawa-based think-tank needs a little more time. The province asked the board to look into the risks and opportunities in a $38.6-billion US bid by Australian mining giant BHP Billiton for PotashCorp. Boyd says the report will have “considerable weight” as a basis for Saskatchewan’s submission to the federal government. The federal and Saskatchewan governments have a regulatory say on any sale of PotashCorp.
Store apologizes for thong advertising
TORONTO — Advertising Playboy-branded thongs as a junior girls’ item in a back-to-school flyer was a “serious mistake,” discount retailer Giant Tiger said Tuesday. The company, which has stores across Canada, said the Playboy attire was aimed at women, not girls.
“It wasn’t done on purpose. We have taken steps in our marketing department to make sure that it never ever happens again,” said vice-president of marketing Dave Thorpe.
“It was a serious mistake that we made and we deeply regret it.” Giant Tiger received complaints from about 30 parents who were offended by the flyer, and wrote each of them to apologize, added Thorpe. “In response to the customer feedback, we’ve removed the Playboy merchandise from the Giant Tiger website and it won’t be displayed in future Giant Tiger flyers,” he said. “And we’re no longer using the term junior to describe Playboy merchandise, and this includes labels and merchandise in the stores.” Playboy headquarters in Chicago said the company never markets anything to people under the age of 18.
