Canwest Global Communications Corporation has dropped its libel suit against The Tyee.

On December 21, 2007, The Tyee published an opinion column by Rafe Mair about the two cartoonists working for the Vancouver Province, which is owned by Canwest. The story contained a factual error. Once that error became apparent, the Tyee first amended and then pulled the article, and published corrections and apologies. The Tyee published the first correction and apology on Dec. 27 and two more, by Tyee editor David Beers and Mair, on Jan. 17.

The Tyee’s tracking of visitor traffic showed that many times more readers saw the apologies than read the original article.

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 Beers. “It frees us to focus on producing the best journalism possible during a very busy political season.”