SAQ.COM and the return of James Suckling for a second year
If the ethical spotlight focused on Pancho Campo, Robert Parker and Jay Miller in the last quarter of 2011, springtime 2012 may well belong to James Suckling and his commercial arrangements with SAQ (La Société des alcools du Quebec). I should say that I have nothing new to add to this story, which was broken by Karyne Duplessis Piché of La Presse here on 17th April with various follow-ups as further evidence has emerged and by other Canadian journalists notably Marc André Gagnon. Hervé Lalau, a fellow member of Les 5 du Vin has today raised some questions here.
There has been considerable confusion over the $24,000 ($18,000 plus some subscriptions to his site) that Suckling was paid by SAQ. The latest appears to be that the fee was for 'creative development and participation as the lead anchor supporting the JamesSuckling.com promotion'. There also seems to be some confusion over whether there are three (9 minutes. 21 seconds) or four videos (apparently around 12 minutes). Videos can be viewed here and, so far, I can only find three. A Montreal advertising agency called Sid Lee was paid $4900 to produce the videos.
In one similarity with the Pancho Campo, Robert Parker and Jay Miller affair Suckling has said: 'I am considering legal action'. It will be interesting to see if he goes beyond 'considering'. It remains to be seen whether the new French president, François Hollande, will seek James' extradition for crimes against the French language.
There has been considerable confusion over the $24,000 ($18,000 plus some subscriptions to his site) that Suckling was paid by SAQ. The latest appears to be that the fee was for 'creative development and participation as the lead anchor supporting the JamesSuckling.com promotion'. There also seems to be some confusion over whether there are three (9 minutes. 21 seconds) or four videos (apparently around 12 minutes). Videos can be viewed here and, so far, I can only find three. A Montreal advertising agency called Sid Lee was paid $4900 to produce the videos.
In one similarity with the Pancho Campo, Robert Parker and Jay Miller affair Suckling has said: 'I am considering legal action'. It will be interesting to see if he goes beyond 'considering'. It remains to be seen whether the new French president, François Hollande, will seek James' extradition for crimes against the French language.
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