HOWARD KURTZ HAS PICKED UP ON THE CANADIAN SCANDAL STORY, making it officially news for the American media:

Yes, our democratic neighbor to the north, which lacks a First Amendment and has a somewhat narrower view of press freedom, is cracking down on an American blogger for reporting on a corruption investigation that apparently has to do with advertising contracts being steered to politically connected firms. The blogger is Ed Morrissey of Captains Quarters, and this London Free Press story brings us up to date:

“A U.S. website has breached the publication ban protecting a Montreal ad executive’s explosive and damning testimony at the federal sponsorship inquiry. The U.S. blogger riled the Gomery commission during the weekend by posting extracts of testimony given in secret Thursday by Jean Brault.

“The American blog, being promoted by an all-news Canadian website, boasts ‘Canada’s Corruption Scandal Breaks Wide Open’ and promises more to come. The owner of the Canadian website refused to comment.

“Inquiry official Francois Perreault voiced shock at the publication ban breach, and said the commission co-counsel Bernard Roy and Justice John Gomery will decide today whether to charge the Canadian website owner with contempt of court.”

He’s got much more.