(1) A plaintiff may
apply to a court for leave to commence an action relating to the publication
of defamatory matter even though one year has elapsed since the publication.
(2) Subject to
subsection (3), on an application a court, if satisfied that it was not
reasonable in the circumstances for the plaintiff to have commenced an action
in relation to the matter complained of within one year from the publication,
must extend the time in which the action can be commenced.
(3) An action relating
to the publication of defamatory matter cannot be commenced if 3 years have
elapsed since the publication.