CBC president Hubert Lacroix didn’t let facts get in the way of a good rant Tuesday at a House of Commons committee looking into sexual harassment at the state broadcaster.
Lacroix attacked two Sun News Network personalities — Byline host Brian Lilley and The Source host Ezra Levant — for “deliberately misleading” Canadians for reporting on sexual harassment at the publicly-funded CBC and host David Suzuki’s demands when he’s on speaking tours.
Read the full story.
cbcexposed is all about exposing the waste of the CBC ... over 1 billion dollars a year of taxpayer money funds the cbc and a lot of that taxpayer money is wasted.
CBC seems to have a double standard about public accountability
CBC journalists can be relied upon to dig for details on public sector stories that are of interest to Canadians.
The vigour the agency’s journalists are bringing to chase the Mike Duffy-Prime Minister’s Office fiasco playing out in Ottawa is an example of this reporting tradition. In doing its media work, the CBC decries secrecy on public matters of public interest — often very conspicuously referencing government stonewalling it feels it encounters as part of its reporting on stories.
It should do what it can to draw attention to this issue and other public accountability matters connected to Canadian governments. However, the CBC seems to have a double standard about public accountability when it comes to behaving as a Crown corporation. A recent effort by The Record to have the costs made public that are associated with setting up the new CBC Radio and online station serving Waterloo Region went nowhere.
Read the full story.
The vigour the agency’s journalists are bringing to chase the Mike Duffy-Prime Minister’s Office fiasco playing out in Ottawa is an example of this reporting tradition. In doing its media work, the CBC decries secrecy on public matters of public interest — often very conspicuously referencing government stonewalling it feels it encounters as part of its reporting on stories.
It should do what it can to draw attention to this issue and other public accountability matters connected to Canadian governments. However, the CBC seems to have a double standard about public accountability when it comes to behaving as a Crown corporation. A recent effort by The Record to have the costs made public that are associated with setting up the new CBC Radio and online station serving Waterloo Region went nowhere.
Read the full story.
CBC failed Albertans
Their slogan says "Canada Lives Here," but the CBC's news channel has a narrow view of that mandate.
Despite receiving nearly $1.2 billion a year from taxpayers to bring Canadians together and keep viewers abreast of historical shifts - like what's going on in Alberta - Canadians missed some intriguing developments the other night.
The state broadcaster chose not to nationally televise Thursday's leaders' debate where unelected Conservative Premier Alison Redford squared off against upstart Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith, as well as the leaders of the NDP and Liberals.
Read the full story.
Despite receiving nearly $1.2 billion a year from taxpayers to bring Canadians together and keep viewers abreast of historical shifts - like what's going on in Alberta - Canadians missed some intriguing developments the other night.
The state broadcaster chose not to nationally televise Thursday's leaders' debate where unelected Conservative Premier Alison Redford squared off against upstart Wildrose Party Leader Danielle Smith, as well as the leaders of the NDP and Liberals.
Read the full story.
CBC demands more money
CBC wants more money from Canadians to pay for local services but isn't willing to say exactly what that money will buy.
A request for details on the cost of their new studios in Hamilton, Ont., including the acquisition, renovation and furnishing of a decrepit old building in the city's downtown core, was granted -- with plenty of information removed.
CBC cited security concerns, competitive issues and privacy in refusing to release what they are spending taxpayers money on.
CBC became subject to the Access to Information Act in 2007. Since then, they have received failing grades for failure to comply with the law and lost two court challenges where they attempted to keep their secrets from being made public.
Read the full story.
A request for details on the cost of their new studios in Hamilton, Ont., including the acquisition, renovation and furnishing of a decrepit old building in the city's downtown core, was granted -- with plenty of information removed.
CBC cited security concerns, competitive issues and privacy in refusing to release what they are spending taxpayers money on.
CBC became subject to the Access to Information Act in 2007. Since then, they have received failing grades for failure to comply with the law and lost two court challenges where they attempted to keep their secrets from being made public.
Read the full story.
CBC's music service bleeding taxpayer cash
CBC defends losing millions of dollars to set up a free music service even as it cancelled other programming and laid off staff.
Last February the state broadcaster launched CBC Music, an online music service that gives away for free what other existing private music services charge money for. While CBC doesn't charge users to listen to the latest Rihanna, Katy Perry or Aerosmith, the artists must be paid.
Now it is reported that CBC is expected to lose close to $6 million in its first year of operation and there is no break even point on the horizon.
Stephen Taylor, with the National Citizen's Coalition, said CBC's decision to use tax dollars to compete with the private sector is troublesome.
Read the full story.
Last February the state broadcaster launched CBC Music, an online music service that gives away for free what other existing private music services charge money for. While CBC doesn't charge users to listen to the latest Rihanna, Katy Perry or Aerosmith, the artists must be paid.
Now it is reported that CBC is expected to lose close to $6 million in its first year of operation and there is no break even point on the horizon.
Stephen Taylor, with the National Citizen's Coalition, said CBC's decision to use tax dollars to compete with the private sector is troublesome.
Read the full story.
Exposing the CBC
The NDP wants more transparency from all government departments but when it comes to the CBC they bend over backwards to protect the state broadcaster.
See the video here.
See the video here.
CBC integrity not in danger with Treasury Board limits ...
Heritage Minister James Moore is brushing off criticisms from Friends of Canadian Broadcasting lobbyists about the CBC losing "editorial independence" if the feds get involved in Crown corporation labour talks.
"It's very clear in the Broadcast Act, section 46, the CBC has full independence of what they decide to put on the air or not, on radio and television or online," Moore said Thursday. "The editorial independence of CBC is entirely untouched."
Allies of the CBC have latched onto a small section of the Conservatives' more than 100-page budget bill that would let the Treasury Board set limits on what Crown corporations' could agree to in labour negotiations.
Read the full story.
"It's very clear in the Broadcast Act, section 46, the CBC has full independence of what they decide to put on the air or not, on radio and television or online," Moore said Thursday. "The editorial independence of CBC is entirely untouched."
Allies of the CBC have latched onto a small section of the Conservatives' more than 100-page budget bill that would let the Treasury Board set limits on what Crown corporations' could agree to in labour negotiations.
Read the full story.
Bill would force CBC to reveal more info about spending
The CBC remains opaque even as a bill aiming to make it more transparent weaves its way through Parliament.
The publicly funded broadcaster has a poor track record of disclosing information and a nasty habit of hiding behind one clause of the Access to Information Act that allows it to withhold info it feels would compromise its journalistic integrity, creativity or programming activities.
Asked for information on the expenses of an executive meeting in Montreal - accommodation, food, entertainment - the broadcaster provided accommodation expenses but withheld food and other costs ...
Read the full story.
The publicly funded broadcaster has a poor track record of disclosing information and a nasty habit of hiding behind one clause of the Access to Information Act that allows it to withhold info it feels would compromise its journalistic integrity, creativity or programming activities.
Asked for information on the expenses of an executive meeting in Montreal - accommodation, food, entertainment - the broadcaster provided accommodation expenses but withheld food and other costs ...
Read the full story.
The CBC is a historic cultural burden with an expired mandate ...
The CBC has more unions protecting its journalistic independence, and this includes covering butts and protecting deadwood, than virtually any private enterprise known to private enterprise.
If not for the taxpayer kicking in billions, the CBC would have gone belly up long ago, or at least been forced to compete for its survival with commercial radio and television.
The CBC is not "sacred," as many of its supporters claim.
The CBC is what it is -- a historic cultural burden with an expired mandate.
Read the full story.
If not for the taxpayer kicking in billions, the CBC would have gone belly up long ago, or at least been forced to compete for its survival with commercial radio and television.
The CBC is not "sacred," as many of its supporters claim.
The CBC is what it is -- a historic cultural burden with an expired mandate.
Read the full story.
CBC wastes your money documenting Brian Lilley ...
Richard Nixon kept an enemies list and so does CBC. No surprise that I'm on CBC's list but I was surprised to finally get my hands on the "Quebecor Briefing Book."
I became aware of the document after requesting and receiving the 547 pages that CBC had amassed on me and the stories I had written about its problems with openness, transparency and handling of taxpayers money. Tucked away in those many pages was an email that made reference to a document all about Quebecor, parent company of Sun News Network and this newspaper.
Well CBC was asked for the document and they said it couldn't be released.
Then CBC said it didn't exist.
Read the full story.
I became aware of the document after requesting and receiving the 547 pages that CBC had amassed on me and the stories I had written about its problems with openness, transparency and handling of taxpayers money. Tucked away in those many pages was an email that made reference to a document all about Quebecor, parent company of Sun News Network and this newspaper.
Well CBC was asked for the document and they said it couldn't be released.
Then CBC said it didn't exist.
Read the full story.
CBC Airs False Allegation ...
CBC Airs False Allegation that Israel Used Chemical Weapons in ’08-’09 Gaza War.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio’s “Information Morning Fredericton” program elected to air an unsubstantiated allegation claiming Israel intentionally used chemical weapons on Palestinian children in Gaza in the 2008-09 war with Hamas.
The allegation came during a segment that aired April 26th, about an exhibit curated in Fredericton depicting fake Gaza art.
Read the full story.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio’s “Information Morning Fredericton” program elected to air an unsubstantiated allegation claiming Israel intentionally used chemical weapons on Palestinian children in Gaza in the 2008-09 war with Hamas.
The allegation came during a segment that aired April 26th, about an exhibit curated in Fredericton depicting fake Gaza art.
Read the full story.
Why is CBC fighting against a free press in Canada?
Canada has a culture and legal system based on “freedom of the press.”
Whenever dictators and totalitarian governments censure, jail and murder journalists we gasp collectively.
Why then did CBC send its employees to a hastily staged meeting of the PEI Press Gallery in October 2009 to shut down an electronic journalist?
I can’t find anywhere in the CBC’s mandate that news censorship is on their agenda.
Read the full story.
Whenever dictators and totalitarian governments censure, jail and murder journalists we gasp collectively.
Why then did CBC send its employees to a hastily staged meeting of the PEI Press Gallery in October 2009 to shut down an electronic journalist?
I can’t find anywhere in the CBC’s mandate that news censorship is on their agenda.
Read the full story.
The CBC is Horribly Broken
This week the Canadian Internets were abuzz with talk of Stephen Harper's plan to control the CBC. The thing is that the CBC is horribly broken already and Stephen Harper's latest authoritarian power grab is the least of their worries.
The reality though is that the CBC is in desperate need of repair, possibly to the point of being reinvented.
As the company's funding dwindled they've been forced to seek new sources of funding. This came, for the most part, in the form of additional advertising on the air and on the website. The end result, on the television side especially, is something that bears little resemblance to a public broadcaster. It has become essentially a publicly funded commercial broadcaster competing with privately owned commercial broadcasters.
Read the full story.
The reality though is that the CBC is in desperate need of repair, possibly to the point of being reinvented.
As the company's funding dwindled they've been forced to seek new sources of funding. This came, for the most part, in the form of additional advertising on the air and on the website. The end result, on the television side especially, is something that bears little resemblance to a public broadcaster. It has become essentially a publicly funded commercial broadcaster competing with privately owned commercial broadcasters.
Read the full story.
CBC News Network ran a report that carried an unforgivable error
In the afternoon of April 30, CBC News Network ran a report on recent Israeli-Palestinian violence that carried an unforgivable error.
While it’s noteworthy that the CBC did issue an on-air correction, nevertheless, the CBC’s correction was very disingenuous.
Instead of remedying their error, this CBC correction has only served to obfuscate the situation.
Read the full story.
While it’s noteworthy that the CBC did issue an on-air correction, nevertheless, the CBC’s correction was very disingenuous.
Instead of remedying their error, this CBC correction has only served to obfuscate the situation.
Read the full story.
What does Kirstine Stewart know about the future of the CBC
Why does anyone leave a job as the most powerful and influential media executive in the country to sell ads for Twitter Canada? And why leave immediately, without prior notice?
Ms. Stewart has spent seven years as a senior executive at the CBC, hired by the much-maligned Richard Stursberg to head up CBC television. She wound up replacing her boss as vice-president of all English language services when Mr. Stursberg was fired by the current CBC president, Hubert Lacroix in 2011.
The citizens of this country need and deserve a full explanation of current conditions within the CBC, and how management is responding.
Read the full story.
Ms. Stewart has spent seven years as a senior executive at the CBC, hired by the much-maligned Richard Stursberg to head up CBC television. She wound up replacing her boss as vice-president of all English language services when Mr. Stursberg was fired by the current CBC president, Hubert Lacroix in 2011.
The citizens of this country need and deserve a full explanation of current conditions within the CBC, and how management is responding.
Read the full story.
Sins, Secrets and Successes Inside the CBC
Video with former CBC VP Richard Stursberg, author of The Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets and Successes Inside the CBC.
Click here to see the video!
Click here to see the video!
Former police chief settles $2-million lawsuit against CBC
Former Edmonton police chief Bob Wasylyshen has settled his $2-million lawsuit against the CBC, in which he claimed he was "maliciously defamed" by the public broadcaster in a story that implied he sexually assaulted and robbed nearly two dozen prostitutes in the early 1980s.
In a notice of discontinuance filed with the court July 7, Wasylyshen ended the 2004 lawsuit without costs, citing "an agreement between the parties." In a letter filed five days earlier, the CBC told the court the matter "has been settled" and the trial, scheduled to begin in September, should be cancelled. CBC lawyer Fred Kozak declined to comment Wednesday and Wasylyshen's lawyer, Gerald Robertson, did not return calls. The public record is mute on the terms of the settlement. A CBC spokesman declined to say whether the public broadcaster would be issuing a retraction or a clarification about the story.
Read the full story.
In a notice of discontinuance filed with the court July 7, Wasylyshen ended the 2004 lawsuit without costs, citing "an agreement between the parties." In a letter filed five days earlier, the CBC told the court the matter "has been settled" and the trial, scheduled to begin in September, should be cancelled. CBC lawyer Fred Kozak declined to comment Wednesday and Wasylyshen's lawyer, Gerald Robertson, did not return calls. The public record is mute on the terms of the settlement. A CBC spokesman declined to say whether the public broadcaster would be issuing a retraction or a clarification about the story.
Read the full story.
CBC host job: white people need not apply
A casting call to hire a new CBC host that specifically said white people need not apply has been withdrawn, with the casting agent offering apologies for the mistake.
The original ad for the host of a children’s show, posted on the casting agency’s website under a CBC logo and on Craigslist, said: “Please only submit [an audition tape] if you match the following criteria: Male between the ages of 23-35 years; Any race except Caucasian.”
Read the full story.
The original ad for the host of a children’s show, posted on the casting agency’s website under a CBC logo and on Craigslist, said: “Please only submit [an audition tape] if you match the following criteria: Male between the ages of 23-35 years; Any race except Caucasian.”
Read the full story.
CBC Radio-Canada agreed the use of the term “attack” was inappropriate
On April 7, Radio-Canada’s Middle East correspondent Ginette Lamarche filed a report on the reconciliation efforts between Israel and Turkey. Recalling the Mavi Marmara incident, Ms. Lamarche stated “Two weeks after the Israeli prime minister offered an apology to Ankara for the attack on the Mavi Marmara…”
As HRC pointed out to Radio-Canada, Israel did not “attack” the Mavi Marmara vessel. Israeli forces boarded the vessel while enforcing a legal naval blockade of Gaza.
Following our request to amend this report, Radio-Canada agreed the use of the term “attack” was inappropriate and issued the following correction:
Read the full story here.
As HRC pointed out to Radio-Canada, Israel did not “attack” the Mavi Marmara vessel. Israeli forces boarded the vessel while enforcing a legal naval blockade of Gaza.
Following our request to amend this report, Radio-Canada agreed the use of the term “attack” was inappropriate and issued the following correction:
Read the full story here.
Ex-PM Threatens CBC With Lawsuit
CBC has been planning on doing a documentary on the Airbus affair, which was a set of allegations about a commission being paid to him as Prime Minister, in return for him ordering a large number of Airbus planes for the formerly government owned airline, Air Canada.
In 1995, the RCMP accused Mulroney of accepting commission for the Airbus planes. Mulroney sued the Canadian government (specifically charging the RCMP) and the case was settled with Mulroney receiving a public apology and payment of his attorney fees of $2 million. The CBC has recently been trying to get an interview with Mr. Mulroney for the documentary, but he has instead threatened a lawsuit.
Read the story.
In 1995, the RCMP accused Mulroney of accepting commission for the Airbus planes. Mulroney sued the Canadian government (specifically charging the RCMP) and the case was settled with Mulroney receiving a public apology and payment of his attorney fees of $2 million. The CBC has recently been trying to get an interview with Mr. Mulroney for the documentary, but he has instead threatened a lawsuit.
Read the story.
CBC broadcasting without a licence
CBC Radio has taken its new local morning show off the air after broadcasting it without a licence.
Local news and programming launched March 11 out of Kitchener without approval from federal regulators.
“This was a regrettable oversight,” CBC spokesperson Angus McKinnon said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
Read the full story.
Local news and programming launched March 11 out of Kitchener without approval from federal regulators.
“This was a regrettable oversight,” CBC spokesperson Angus McKinnon said in a statement posted on the station’s website.
Read the full story.
CBC Exposed - now over 80,000 views on YouTube!
CBC Exposed - Political Book of the Year - now over 80,000 views on YouTube! Have your copy yet?
CBC offered a compromise re Tax Cheats
The Canada Revenue Agency is offering a compromise to the CBC, saying the broadcaster can keep secret the original source of information, but still reveal the 450 names of alleged tax cheats.
The CBC is one of the dozens of media organizations that belong to the U.S.-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which released explosive stories last week about how the rich and powerful hide their assets in offshore tax havens.
Earlier this week, National Revenue minister Gail Shea threatened the CBC with legal action, but the media organization has refused to reveal the names thus far. On Friday, the CRA commissioner tried a different tact, issuing an open letter addressed to CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix.
“I would expect that both the CBC and you, as its president and CEO, have an interest in ensuring that appropriate action is taken if individuals are not respecting their tax obligations,” said CRA commissioner and CEO Andrew Treusch. “Taking action against individuals who are not respecting their tax obligations is in the best interest of the public and law abiding Canadians.”
He added this could be done without infringing on CBC’s journalistic mandate.
Read the full story.
Question - should CBC reveal Tax Cheaters identities?
The CBC is one of the dozens of media organizations that belong to the U.S.-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which released explosive stories last week about how the rich and powerful hide their assets in offshore tax havens.
Earlier this week, National Revenue minister Gail Shea threatened the CBC with legal action, but the media organization has refused to reveal the names thus far. On Friday, the CRA commissioner tried a different tact, issuing an open letter addressed to CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix.
“I would expect that both the CBC and you, as its president and CEO, have an interest in ensuring that appropriate action is taken if individuals are not respecting their tax obligations,” said CRA commissioner and CEO Andrew Treusch. “Taking action against individuals who are not respecting their tax obligations is in the best interest of the public and law abiding Canadians.”
He added this could be done without infringing on CBC’s journalistic mandate.
Read the full story.
Question - should CBC reveal Tax Cheaters identities?
Tax minister could sue CBC
The federal government could take the state broadcaster to court to force the CBC to give up information it received in a massive leak of offshore tax records.
The leak of 30 years of tax records belonging to 130,000 people around the world was received by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It parcelled out the massive database to to news organizations in 40 countries. In Canada, it gave the data to the CBC.
CBC reported that at least 450 Canadians are named in the leak but, so far, has described the offshore holdings of millions of dollars held by Regina lawyer Anthony Merchant, spouse to Liberal senator Pana Merchant. The CBC did not suggest Merchant violated any laws though it detailed how he used offshore banks to hide some transactions from Canadian authorities.
Now, federal Revenue Minister Gail Shea wants the other 449 names.
Read the full story.
The leak of 30 years of tax records belonging to 130,000 people around the world was received by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It parcelled out the massive database to to news organizations in 40 countries. In Canada, it gave the data to the CBC.
CBC reported that at least 450 Canadians are named in the leak but, so far, has described the offshore holdings of millions of dollars held by Regina lawyer Anthony Merchant, spouse to Liberal senator Pana Merchant. The CBC did not suggest Merchant violated any laws though it detailed how he used offshore banks to hide some transactions from Canadian authorities.
Now, federal Revenue Minister Gail Shea wants the other 449 names.
Read the full story.
Analysis done by the CBC is hugely misleading
The president of St. Mary’s General Hospital is alarmed by a new report comparing hospitals across Canada that leaves the impression you’re more likely to die if you have surgery at his hospital.
The problem is, Don Shilton said, the analysis done by the CBC is hugely misleading because it overlooks his hospital’s specialization in high-risk procedures.
“The concern I have is that people may misinterpret this information and make health care decision inappropriately,” Shilton said.
He points to a report last fall by the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario that suggests St. Mary’s actually has a mortality rate that’s 30 per cent better than the provincial average.
Read the full story.
The problem is, Don Shilton said, the analysis done by the CBC is hugely misleading because it overlooks his hospital’s specialization in high-risk procedures.
“The concern I have is that people may misinterpret this information and make health care decision inappropriately,” Shilton said.
He points to a report last fall by the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario that suggests St. Mary’s actually has a mortality rate that’s 30 per cent better than the provincial average.
Read the full story.
Tax minister to CBC: "Tax evasion is something that we take very seriously."
The federal government could take the state broadcaster to court to force the CBC to give up information it received in a massive leak of offshore tax records.
The leak of 30 years of tax records belonging to 130,000 people around the world was received by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It parcelled out the massive database to to news organizations in 40 countries. In Canada, it gave the data to the CBC.
"We have requested that the CBC turn over this list so we can do a thorough investigation of the money and information that's on the list," Shea told reporters in Halifax. "Tax evasion is something that we take very seriously."
Read the full story.
The leak of 30 years of tax records belonging to 130,000 people around the world was received by the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It parcelled out the massive database to to news organizations in 40 countries. In Canada, it gave the data to the CBC.
"We have requested that the CBC turn over this list so we can do a thorough investigation of the money and information that's on the list," Shea told reporters in Halifax. "Tax evasion is something that we take very seriously."
Read the full story.
Openness and Transparency for CBC?
Gerald Keddy Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
I listen to CBC Radio and I watch CBC television.
The bill deals with the CBC, a multi-billion dollar crown corporation that Canadian taxpayers pay for and how access to information requests should be managed.
The CBC gains a significant amount of its revenue from advertising sales. However, it still receives nearly $1 billion a year from the government and the taxpayers of Canada and that is what separates it from broadcasters whose funding is solely from private sources.
We are talking about a multi-billion dollar crown corporation. Do we not want to have some openness and some transparency? Do we not want to let the full light of day shine upon certain aspects of how this corporation works?
Read the full transcript.
I listen to CBC Radio and I watch CBC television.
The bill deals with the CBC, a multi-billion dollar crown corporation that Canadian taxpayers pay for and how access to information requests should be managed.
The CBC gains a significant amount of its revenue from advertising sales. However, it still receives nearly $1 billion a year from the government and the taxpayers of Canada and that is what separates it from broadcasters whose funding is solely from private sources.
We are talking about a multi-billion dollar crown corporation. Do we not want to have some openness and some transparency? Do we not want to let the full light of day shine upon certain aspects of how this corporation works?
Read the full transcript.
Hard-working Canadians deserve to know how CBC spends their money
Kerry-Lynne Findlay - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have this opportunity to speak for a few minutes to Bill C-461, the CBC and public service disclosure and transparency act.
I would first like to thank the member for Edmonton—St. Albert for his efforts to bring a higher level of openness and accountability to the CBC. Bill C-461 also proposes to bring more openness in relation to the expenditure of public funds. These involve the disclosure of reimbursed expenses to government employees and of the exact salaries of the highest-earning officers or employees of government institutions.
Currently, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act do not apply to records of the CBC that contain information that relates to its journalistic, creative or programming activities. This means Canadian citizens do not have a right of access to this information.
Hard-working Canadians pay their fair share of taxes. I think all parliamentarians in the chamber would agree that they deserve to know that their money is spent by the government prudently and that there be transparency in its expenditure.
Read the full transcript.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have this opportunity to speak for a few minutes to Bill C-461, the CBC and public service disclosure and transparency act.
I would first like to thank the member for Edmonton—St. Albert for his efforts to bring a higher level of openness and accountability to the CBC. Bill C-461 also proposes to bring more openness in relation to the expenditure of public funds. These involve the disclosure of reimbursed expenses to government employees and of the exact salaries of the highest-earning officers or employees of government institutions.
Currently, the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act do not apply to records of the CBC that contain information that relates to its journalistic, creative or programming activities. This means Canadian citizens do not have a right of access to this information.
Hard-working Canadians pay their fair share of taxes. I think all parliamentarians in the chamber would agree that they deserve to know that their money is spent by the government prudently and that there be transparency in its expenditure.
Read the full transcript.
Canada Revenue Agency offers deal to CBC ...
Canada Revenue Agency wants to cut a deal with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that would allow the broadcaster to protect its secret sources, but also rat out tax cheats who have money tucked away in offshore accounts.
While Minister of National Revenue Gail Shea threatened legal action against the CBC earlier this week, CRA Commissioner Andrew Treusch issued an open letter Friday asking the broadcaster to reconsider its decision to protect its sources and withhold the information.
“I understand that the CBC is reluctant to provide this data, citing concerns with journalistic independence and protecting sources,” he wrote in a letter to CBC chief executive officer Hubert Lacroix. “I can assure you that the Canada Revenue Agency has not asked for the source of the information and will treat any information you provide with strict confidentiality in the same manner it treats all taxpayer information it receives.”
He also appealed to Mr. Lacroix on a personal level, suggesting that it would be in the best interest of the country to share the information with tax authorities.
“I would expect that both the CBC and you, as its president and CEO, have an interest in ensuring that appropriate action is taken if individuals are not respecting their tax obligations,” he wrote. “Taking action against individuals who are not respecting their tax obligations is in the best interest of the public and law-abiding Canadians. The provision of the data that your organization has in its possession would allow the CRA to pursue cases where this is occurring without in any way infringing on your journalistic mandate.”
The CBC has no intention of sharing the data, spokesman Chuck Thompson said.
Read the full story.
While Minister of National Revenue Gail Shea threatened legal action against the CBC earlier this week, CRA Commissioner Andrew Treusch issued an open letter Friday asking the broadcaster to reconsider its decision to protect its sources and withhold the information.
“I understand that the CBC is reluctant to provide this data, citing concerns with journalistic independence and protecting sources,” he wrote in a letter to CBC chief executive officer Hubert Lacroix. “I can assure you that the Canada Revenue Agency has not asked for the source of the information and will treat any information you provide with strict confidentiality in the same manner it treats all taxpayer information it receives.”
He also appealed to Mr. Lacroix on a personal level, suggesting that it would be in the best interest of the country to share the information with tax authorities.
“I would expect that both the CBC and you, as its president and CEO, have an interest in ensuring that appropriate action is taken if individuals are not respecting their tax obligations,” he wrote. “Taking action against individuals who are not respecting their tax obligations is in the best interest of the public and law-abiding Canadians. The provision of the data that your organization has in its possession would allow the CRA to pursue cases where this is occurring without in any way infringing on your journalistic mandate.”
The CBC has no intention of sharing the data, spokesman Chuck Thompson said.
Read the full story.
CBC Missed Mark On Canadian Hospitals
Over the past nine months CBC’s fifth estate has been conducting an investigation called Rate My Hospital.
Earlier in the week, the CBC reported that out of approximately 4,000 nursing associates surveyed, 25 per cent wouldn’t recommend their hospital for care.
“We are very concerned about the fifth estate's ‘Rate My Hospital’ project, specifically, that Canadians will use the flawed information contained in it to make decisions about where and when to receive hospital care without the advice of knowledgeable medical professionals,” said OHA president Pat Campbell.
Campbell says the CBC missed the mark by using an opinion-driven survey.
Read the full story.
Earlier in the week, the CBC reported that out of approximately 4,000 nursing associates surveyed, 25 per cent wouldn’t recommend their hospital for care.
“We are very concerned about the fifth estate's ‘Rate My Hospital’ project, specifically, that Canadians will use the flawed information contained in it to make decisions about where and when to receive hospital care without the advice of knowledgeable medical professionals,” said OHA president Pat Campbell.
Campbell says the CBC missed the mark by using an opinion-driven survey.
Read the full story.
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