EXHIBIT 8

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of CanWest Global Communications Corp. (the
"Company") on Form 40-F for the period ending August 31, 2004 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, John E.
Maguire, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, that:

(1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d)
      of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
      respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
      Company.

                                           /s/ JOHN E. MAGUIRE
                                           -------------------
                                           John E. Maguire
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                           December 23, 2004