An Australian-based organization that promotes assisted suicide is considering legal action after Canadian regulators refused to allow one of its advertisements to be broadcast in Canada.

Exit International's founder, Philip Nitschke, called the 45-second ad reasonable and one "that Canadians will benefit from seeing."

Exit International had hoped to roll out the ad to promote its upcoming "Safe Exit Workshop" tour, a five-city North American venture including stops in Vancouver and Toronto. The workshop includes a step-by-step demonstration by Nitschke of how to commit suicide, as well as information sessions on non-prescription drugs, poisons and gases.

Canadian law forbids counselling or assisting someone in committing suicide.

The Television Bureau of Canada, which establishes agreed-upon standards and guidelines for its 150-plus members in producing advertisements, has so far refused to clear the ad for airing.

Hugh Scher, legal counsel for the Toronto-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, told CBC News the ad goes too far — morally and legally.

"[It's] effectively aimed towards promoting a series of workshops aimed at assisting people or counselling people on how to break the law in this country," said Scher. "That's something we can't tolerate."

In the ad, a middle-aged man sits on the edge of a bed in a white T-shirt and striped pyjama pants, with prominent dark circles under his eyes.

In a broad Australian accent, the man describes the choices he's made in life: "to marry Tina, have two great kids, I chose to always have a Ford, chose this shirt, even chose this haircut."

"What I didn't choose was being terminally ill," the man says. "I didn't choose to starve to death because eating is like swallowing razor blades. I certainly didn't choose to have to watch my family go through it with me. I've made my final choice. I just need the government to listen."

Regulators in Australia have also banned the ad, saying it violates rules dealing with the promotion or encouragement of suicide.

With files from the CBC's Greg Rasmussen