February 14, 2012

W5 Continues In-depth Investigations of the Canada Revenue Agency with All-new Cases and All-new Tax Horror Stories

– Also, W5 investigates recent attempts to revitalize the outport life and economy on Newfoundland’s Fogo Island –

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Toronto, ON (February 14, 2012) – After capturing one million viewers last week with its most-watched episode in three years, W5 returns with its annual in-depth investigation of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) this Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV and CTV Mobile. W5 presents all-new cases that reveal shocking tax horror stories faced by hard-working, ordinary Canadians when they come up against the taxman. Then, Seamus O’Regan returns to Newfoundland with a story about one woman’s efforts to revitalize her homeland of Fogo Island, the struggling fishing community that is positioning itself as an international destination for the arts.

W5 also airs Sundays on CP24 at 1 p.m. ET, and at 7 p.m. ET on CTV Two, and then on demand on the CTV News Video Player at CTVNews.ca (visit CTV.ca for local listings).

Last week, W5’s powerful documentary “Murder For Love”, featuring exclusive access to the story of Kim Walker, who was convicted for killing his daughter’s boyfriend, delivered one million viewers Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV against a high-profile edition of HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. It was the most-watched W5 episode in three years.

This week, “Unfair Advantage” investigates tax cases from coast-to-coast and finds Canadians who have had their financial well-being shattered at the hand of callous and secretive CRA employees. The third in an annual series of in-depth W5 investigations into the out-of-control taxman, “Unfair Advantage” continues to chase startling stories of insensitivity and unaccountability revealed in W5 episodes in 2010 (“A Taxing Problem”) and 2011 (“The Audit”).

W5 looks into inequitable treatment for Newfoundland cod fishermen. After a government bailout, the CRA demanded the fishermen treat the money as capital gains and took back tens of thousands of dollars in tax payments. What the taxman didn’t reveal was that it issued refunds to more than one hundred fishermen in 2004 – leaving hundreds more out of pocket and still fighting to get back their money. Newfoundlander and fisherman’s wife Elizabeth Harvey took up the cause of the fishermen who didn’t receive equal treatment, and shares the David and Goliath tale of her 12-year quest for answers and justice from the powerful CRA.

In W5’s second story, reporter Seamus O’Regan takes viewers to Fogo Island. O’Regan shares the story of Zita Cobb, who returns to her native home with a plan to revitalize the struggling out-port community as an international destination for the arts. Cobb, the daughter of illiterate parents who grew up with no running water or electricity, went on to study business at University of Ottawa, later becoming a very successful multi-millionaire. Along with her brother Tony, Cobb co-founded the Shorefast Foundation, a charity that she has staked with more than $30 million of her own money– jumpstarting a cultural renaissance on the island. In classic “build it and they will come” fashion, the tourists are starting to pour in to see what the New York Times called last year “one of the world’s 41 must-see places”.

With an ongoing commitment to covering tough, relevant stories with fair and responsible reporting, W5 is in its 46th season of investigative journalism. Hosted by Lloyd Robertson, the award-winning series is the most-watched documentary program in Canada. Anton Koschany is Executive Producer of W5. Brett Mitchell is Senior Producer. Wendy Freeman is President of CTV News.

CTV, Canada’s Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada’s most-watched television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.

- CTV -

For more information, contact:
Patricia Garcia, CTV Inc., 416.384.2645 or patricia.garcia@bellmedia.ca
Emily Young Lee, CTV Inc., 416.384.3004 or emily.younglee@bellmedia.ca

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