A taxpayer advocacy group is calling on CBC to be as open about the salaries for their top executives as executives of some of Canada's top companies are.
"If disclosure of executive compensation for publicly traded companies serves the public interest, then we as coerced shareholders of the state-funded broadcaster are certainly concerned by the culture of secrecy that refuses similar disclosure by executives at the CBC," said Stephen Taylor, director at the National Citizen Coalition.
CBC has repeatedly refused to disclose the salaries or bonuses of their top executives unlike many publicly traded companies.
Read the full story here.
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.
Fifth Estate film found at fault for unfounded facts and false impressions ...
After winning his case in Ontario’s Superior Court, Dr. Leenen said, ‘Four years ago we proposed to settle this law suit for $10,000 and an on-air apology. It was refused…The Fifth Estate persisted and took me through 10 weeks of trial.’
The trial judge awarded very high damages for libel against The Fifth Estate and the CBC as well as individual reporters and producers. The CBC appealed. Ontario’s Court of Appeal disagreed with the CBC, and ruled that Dr. Leenen had been libelled. Finally, the CBC tried to take the case to Canada’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Supreme Court ruled against the CBC in February, with yet another costs award. Dr. Leenen’s long legal journey is over. The case should be a lesson for documentary producers and journalists everywhere.
What went wrong?
The trial judge awarded very high damages for libel against The Fifth Estate and the CBC as well as individual reporters and producers. The CBC appealed. Ontario’s Court of Appeal disagreed with the CBC, and ruled that Dr. Leenen had been libelled. Finally, the CBC tried to take the case to Canada’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Supreme Court ruled against the CBC in February, with yet another costs award. Dr. Leenen’s long legal journey is over. The case should be a lesson for documentary producers and journalists everywhere.
What went wrong?
Downsized, decentralized CBC remains key goal for Tories: Heritage Minister James Moore ...
Heritage Minister James Moore, at the helm of a federal department mandated to cement Canadian unity by promoting the arts, culture and pride in national history, is surprisingly blunt about what kinds of institutions will thrive and which will suffer in 2012 and beyond under a tight-fisted Conservative government.
“I think those institutions that have broad-based support, who have brought in the private sector, who have an approach to business that doesn’t just entirely depend on taxpayers’ money, are the institutions that are going to be the strongest,” Moore told Postmedia News in a year-end interview.
“But I think those organizations that have been stagnant in the way in which they’ve built themselves are organizations that are not going to have a very happy future.”
Read the full story here.
“I think those institutions that have broad-based support, who have brought in the private sector, who have an approach to business that doesn’t just entirely depend on taxpayers’ money, are the institutions that are going to be the strongest,” Moore told Postmedia News in a year-end interview.
“But I think those organizations that have been stagnant in the way in which they’ve built themselves are organizations that are not going to have a very happy future.”
Read the full story here.
CBC’s 75th-birthday celebrations cost at least $6.6-million ...
The CBC spent at least $6.6-million to celebrate its 75th birthday, including $300,000 on a CD box set and $590,000 on corporate communications, although the overall budget for anniversary programming is still being kept secret, documents show.
The Crown corporation earmarked a budget of $1.5-million for the celebrations, to be shared between its English- and French-language services for matters such as advertising and various partnerships with federal agencies.
Additional funds came out of the CBC’s existing annual budgets, including $5-million on jubilee-related programming for a series of broadcasts on its French-language radio and television channels.
However, documents released under Access to Information did not include English-language production costs, and a spokesman said on Wednesday that the information is not publicly available at this time.
Read the full story here.
The Crown corporation earmarked a budget of $1.5-million for the celebrations, to be shared between its English- and French-language services for matters such as advertising and various partnerships with federal agencies.
Additional funds came out of the CBC’s existing annual budgets, including $5-million on jubilee-related programming for a series of broadcasts on its French-language radio and television channels.
However, documents released under Access to Information did not include English-language production costs, and a spokesman said on Wednesday that the information is not publicly available at this time.
Read the full story here.
Ivory-tower thinking rampant at the CBC ...
A report that the CBC spent at least $6.6 million to celebrate its 75th birthday highlights a couple of the problems plaguing the high and mighty Mother Corp.
One is that the public broadcaster is allowed to hide the overall budget for the anniversary programming from the taxpayers who fund it.
The other problem is the spending itself. At a time when most private media companies are trying to find nickels under sofas, is it wise for an artificially padded, public media corporation to be spending the better part of $7 million — or whatever the real figure is — on a birthday bash?
One is that the public broadcaster is allowed to hide the overall budget for the anniversary programming from the taxpayers who fund it.
The other problem is the spending itself. At a time when most private media companies are trying to find nickels under sofas, is it wise for an artificially padded, public media corporation to be spending the better part of $7 million — or whatever the real figure is — on a birthday bash?
Why the CBC should be more like HBO ...
The problem the CBC faces is that whatever their motives might be, its antagonists are, on the whole, right (you should pardon the expression). They are right in terms of the immediate controversy, i.e., whether the corporation is obliged to comply with access to information requests, even from its competitors: clearly, under the law, it must. While the law makes exception for certain types of documents, it cannot be up to the CBC alone to decide which documents qualify for this exception, as a court has lately ruled.
So big change is coming. That much is certain. The question is whether the CBC will get out in front of it, or whether it will drag its heels, hankering after a world that has gone and isn’t coming back.
Perhaps the present controversy will clinch the case. So long as the CBC is dependent on the public purse, it will always be vulnerable to political pressure and the vagaries of budget cuts. Freed from that dependence, it would be free to chart its own course, accountable neither to advertisers nor to backbenchers, but to those best and wisest of judges, its viewers.
Read the full story here.
So big change is coming. That much is certain. The question is whether the CBC will get out in front of it, or whether it will drag its heels, hankering after a world that has gone and isn’t coming back.
Perhaps the present controversy will clinch the case. So long as the CBC is dependent on the public purse, it will always be vulnerable to political pressure and the vagaries of budget cuts. Freed from that dependence, it would be free to chart its own course, accountable neither to advertisers nor to backbenchers, but to those best and wisest of judges, its viewers.
Read the full story here.
CBC boss bills taxpayers for private lunches and fancy hotels ...
The head of Canada's state broadcaster has a taste for fine hotel rooms and pricey lunches, according to a set of expense claims released to QMI Agency under the access to information system.
Hubert Lacroix, president and CEO of the CBC, prefers the comfort of the tony Chataeu Laurier hotel when travelling to Ottawa on business. The Chateau, located next to the Parliament buildings, is a place to see and be seen for Ottawa's power brokers. It also charges rates at least $100 per night higher than many hotels in the same area that cater to business travellers.
The hotel bills itself as "a magnificent limestone edifice with turrets and masonry reminiscent of a French chateau. This luxury hotel in Ottawa enchants guests with its charm and stateliness."
Read the full story here.
Hubert Lacroix, president and CEO of the CBC, prefers the comfort of the tony Chataeu Laurier hotel when travelling to Ottawa on business. The Chateau, located next to the Parliament buildings, is a place to see and be seen for Ottawa's power brokers. It also charges rates at least $100 per night higher than many hotels in the same area that cater to business travellers.
The hotel bills itself as "a magnificent limestone edifice with turrets and masonry reminiscent of a French chateau. This luxury hotel in Ottawa enchants guests with its charm and stateliness."
Read the full story here.
Poll blasts CBC use of tax dollars in court ...
A majority of Canadians - 64% - believe the CBC should not spend tax dollars to fight its legal battle with Canada's independent ombudsman, who investigates transparency complaints, according to a poll by the research firm Abacus Data.
"Sixty-four percent of Canadians say it is wrong, only 10% say it is right. I think on this issue, the CBC is clearly on the wrong side of public opinion," Dr. David Coletto, who leads Abacus Data's team of consultants and strategists, said.
Abacus conducted a series of online polls Aug. 12-15 and asked 1,003 people if it is right or wrong for the broadcaster to spend tax dollars on a court battle with the federal information commissioner.
Read the full story here.
What do YOU think?
"Sixty-four percent of Canadians say it is wrong, only 10% say it is right. I think on this issue, the CBC is clearly on the wrong side of public opinion," Dr. David Coletto, who leads Abacus Data's team of consultants and strategists, said.
Abacus conducted a series of online polls Aug. 12-15 and asked 1,003 people if it is right or wrong for the broadcaster to spend tax dollars on a court battle with the federal information commissioner.
Read the full story here.
What do YOU think?
'Scum_TV' tweeter defends CBC ...
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is gaining some colourful social media friends.
@Scum_TV is a Twitter account followed by at least five CBC employees, including, it appears, their executive vice president.
The accounts aren't verified users by the blue check mark used on Twitter.
Some Sun News Network employees follow the account as well, since they are often targeted in Scum_TV's posts.
Read the full story here.
CBC out of control in Quebec ...
For those of you who are shocked when the English CBC lets its slip show to expose its left-leaning bias, it’s probably because you don’t know the French CBC, which doesn’t even bother wearing anything over its slip.
Over the past few weeks, one of my friends, Frederick Tetu, has been doing a weekly feature called Radio-Canada Watch for a Quebec City radio show, in which he airs a few of the most revealing excerpts illustrating how anti-Conservative the French wing of that Crown corporation has become.
He doesn’t have to look very hard or for very long to find them.
Read the full story here.
Over the past few weeks, one of my friends, Frederick Tetu, has been doing a weekly feature called Radio-Canada Watch for a Quebec City radio show, in which he airs a few of the most revealing excerpts illustrating how anti-Conservative the French wing of that Crown corporation has become.
He doesn’t have to look very hard or for very long to find them.
Read the full story here.
It's our party: Fix is in as CBC scoops rights to taxpayer-funded Canada Day celebrations ...
Why are we selling the broadcast rights to Canada Day?
Did you know this happens?
It’s true, the government sells the broadcast rights to our national celebration of Canadianess.
What’s even worse is that they sell it in a way that makes sure only one broadcaster can win the rights — you guessed it — the state broadcaster.
Read the full story here.
Did you know this happens?
It’s true, the government sells the broadcast rights to our national celebration of Canadianess.
What’s even worse is that they sell it in a way that makes sure only one broadcaster can win the rights — you guessed it — the state broadcaster.
Read the full story here.
CBC's plan backfired...big time ...
Last week, the CBC brought back an old war-horse named Mary Walsh to do a political attack on Toronto’s mayor, Rob Ford.
Walsh used to be on the CBC’s low-rating comedy show called This Hour has 22 Minutes. It used to be funny back when Rick Mercer was on it, but it’s had a tough time since then.
The CBC said goodbye to Walsh a long time ago, and she spends her time doing the left-wing political protest circuit now. But last week, for some reason, they flew her in from Newfoundland for one last mission: Take a run at Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Read the full story here.
Walsh used to be on the CBC’s low-rating comedy show called This Hour has 22 Minutes. It used to be funny back when Rick Mercer was on it, but it’s had a tough time since then.
The CBC said goodbye to Walsh a long time ago, and she spends her time doing the left-wing political protest circuit now. But last week, for some reason, they flew her in from Newfoundland for one last mission: Take a run at Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Read the full story here.
Feathers ruffled at CBC ...
I seemed to have ruffled a few feathers with CBC brass.
Alan Thorgeirson, managing director of CBC, responded to a recent column of mine in which I argued more public information should be available. His defense of CBC actions was so inane it would be hilarious if it was not costing you and me $1.1 billion a year in subsidies to the Corporation.
Putting aside the fact that he distorted my statements, his defense confirmed, without doubt, my suggestion that "CBC portrays themselves as the intellectually elite, and, as such, sees themselves as above the public in general and their right to information. They simply, in their view, operate at a higher level that is beyond reproach."
Read the full story here.
Alan Thorgeirson, managing director of CBC, responded to a recent column of mine in which I argued more public information should be available. His defense of CBC actions was so inane it would be hilarious if it was not costing you and me $1.1 billion a year in subsidies to the Corporation.
Putting aside the fact that he distorted my statements, his defense confirmed, without doubt, my suggestion that "CBC portrays themselves as the intellectually elite, and, as such, sees themselves as above the public in general and their right to information. They simply, in their view, operate at a higher level that is beyond reproach."
Read the full story here.
Paying for the party – Strombo’s Party, your tab ...
We’ve got the details on what the state broadcaster wants to spend your money on and I have to tell you – you might be underwhelmed – really underwhelmed. And maybe annoyed.
Not only did this party cost more than CBC claims, it appears that, one of the main goals was to generate Twitter traffic about George Stroumboulopolous.
A party for the glory of Strombo, the CBC and his Twitter feed. You paid for. Most Canadians will not earn in a year what this party cost for one night of getting celebrities boozed up at the fanciest hotel in Canada.
Was it worth it for you?
Read the full story here.
Not only did this party cost more than CBC claims, it appears that, one of the main goals was to generate Twitter traffic about George Stroumboulopolous.
A party for the glory of Strombo, the CBC and his Twitter feed. You paid for. Most Canadians will not earn in a year what this party cost for one night of getting celebrities boozed up at the fanciest hotel in Canada.
Was it worth it for you?
Read the full story here.
Time To Privatize The CBC ...
This year is the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC’s budget is well over $1.5 billion with approximately $500 million coming from revenues. That means the taxpayers are providing the CBC with over $1 billion a year and after 75 years......well, you can do the math.
The Government of Canada should not be in the broadcasting business. In order to justify its support from the taxpayer, the CBC is mandated to provide a mixture of programming that caters to various small communities of Canadians and regions of the country. As a result, a lot of programming is neither cost effective nor of interest to the majority of Canadians. While the private sector would quickly rid themselves of programming liabilities, the CBC is faced with government agendas.
Read the full story here.
The Government of Canada should not be in the broadcasting business. In order to justify its support from the taxpayer, the CBC is mandated to provide a mixture of programming that caters to various small communities of Canadians and regions of the country. As a result, a lot of programming is neither cost effective nor of interest to the majority of Canadians. While the private sector would quickly rid themselves of programming liabilities, the CBC is faced with government agendas.
Read the full story here.
What not to fund: The CBC ...
In recent days and weeks, several Conservative MPs have presented petitions calling for an end to the $1.1-billion government subsidy of the CBC. I concur.
The fact is, Canada no longer needs a public broadcaster in the digital age.
Government needs to get out of the business of broadcasting. They are bullying the private sector with their unfair subsidies, and the public they purport to serve won’t stand for it.
Read the full story here.
The fact is, Canada no longer needs a public broadcaster in the digital age.
Government needs to get out of the business of broadcasting. They are bullying the private sector with their unfair subsidies, and the public they purport to serve won’t stand for it.
Read the full story here.
CBC funding debate ‘just heating up’ says Richards ...
Wild Rose MP Blake Richards is looking for the opinions of his constituents in regards to the festering debate over taxpayer funding to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Richards is asking people to visit his website and cast their vote as to whether the CBC should be required to disclose how the news organization spends the $1.1 billion appropriation they receive each year.
Read the full story here.
Richards is asking people to visit his website and cast their vote as to whether the CBC should be required to disclose how the news organization spends the $1.1 billion appropriation they receive each year.
Read the full story here.
Scouts Canada unhappy with 'Fifth Estate' story, says lawsuit could be an option ...
Scouts Canada is keeping its options open when it comes to taking legal action against the CBC for a report alleging it kept a confidential list of suspected pedophiles within the organization.
Chief commissioner Steve Kent denied the allegation again Friday, saying the organization feels elements of The Fifth Estate report, which aired a few weeks ago, were misleading.
"The most unfortunate part is that some of the CBC coverage has left the impression that we’ve been hiding something," Kent said.
Chief commissioner Steve Kent denied the allegation again Friday, saying the organization feels elements of The Fifth Estate report, which aired a few weeks ago, were misleading.
"The most unfortunate part is that some of the CBC coverage has left the impression that we’ve been hiding something," Kent said.
CBC's glitzy Strombo party cost $72,000 + ...
CBC paid more than one-and-a-half times the average income of a working Canadian for a one-night, celebrity-filled party last September.
Called the Hazelton Takeover, the event cost taxpayers more than $72,000, thousands more than CBC president Hubert Lacroix claimed when he appeared before a Commons committee.
The lavish event, held at "Canada's only 5 star hotel" in "the city's finest and most fashionable downtown district," brought CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos together with American and British celebrities during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lacroix told MPs that the party cost $64,000, but a single invoice from Veritas Communications shows a charge of $72,372.
Other invoices, including one from the Hazelton Hotel, have had all the key information -- including charges -- removed.
Read the full story here.
PS - what do YOU think about this?
Called the Hazelton Takeover, the event cost taxpayers more than $72,000, thousands more than CBC president Hubert Lacroix claimed when he appeared before a Commons committee.
The lavish event, held at "Canada's only 5 star hotel" in "the city's finest and most fashionable downtown district," brought CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos together with American and British celebrities during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lacroix told MPs that the party cost $64,000, but a single invoice from Veritas Communications shows a charge of $72,372.
Other invoices, including one from the Hazelton Hotel, have had all the key information -- including charges -- removed.
Read the full story here.
PS - what do YOU think about this?
Why the CBC should be more like HBO ...
The problem the CBC faces is that whatever their motives might be, its antagonists are, on the whole, right (you should pardon the expression). They are right in terms of the immediate controversy, i.e., whether the corporation is obliged to comply with access to information requests, even from its competitors: clearly, under the law, it must. While the law makes exception for certain types of documents, it cannot be up to the CBC alone to decide which documents qualify for this exception, as a court has lately ruled.
Fast-forward five years from now, and it’s quite clear that television will no longer be delivered in the form of separate channels, each streaming a series of programs one after the other. Turn on your TV, rather, and you’ll see a screen full of icons representing the shows you subscribe to: the iTunes model. Indeed, that’s how many people watch TV now.
Put it all together, and there is simply no case for continuing to aim hundreds of millions of dollars every year at a single point on the dial. It’s not good for taxpayers. It’s not good for viewers. And it’s not good for the CBC itself, and the people who work there. The best television, as on HBO, emerges from a partnership between creative producers and a passionate, demanding, discerning audience.
So big change is coming. That much is certain. The question is whether the CBC will get out in front of it, or whether it will drag its heels, hankering after a world that has gone and isn’t coming back.
Read the full story here.
Fast-forward five years from now, and it’s quite clear that television will no longer be delivered in the form of separate channels, each streaming a series of programs one after the other. Turn on your TV, rather, and you’ll see a screen full of icons representing the shows you subscribe to: the iTunes model. Indeed, that’s how many people watch TV now.
Put it all together, and there is simply no case for continuing to aim hundreds of millions of dollars every year at a single point on the dial. It’s not good for taxpayers. It’s not good for viewers. And it’s not good for the CBC itself, and the people who work there. The best television, as on HBO, emerges from a partnership between creative producers and a passionate, demanding, discerning audience.
So big change is coming. That much is certain. The question is whether the CBC will get out in front of it, or whether it will drag its heels, hankering after a world that has gone and isn’t coming back.
Read the full story here.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v. Canada
CBC refusing to disclose certain records to Commissioner because information relating to journalistic, creative, programming activities contained therein—CBC relying on words “[t]his Act does not apply” in s. 68.1 to support argument—Interpretation contrary to purpose of Act.
Read the full document here.
Read the full document here.
It's our party: Fix is in as CBC scoops rights to taxpayer-funded Canada Day celebrations
Why are we selling the broadcast rights to Canada Day?
Did you know this happens?
It’s true, the government sells the broadcast rights to our national celebration of Canadianess.
What’s even worse is that they sell it in a way that makes sure only one broadcaster can win the rights — you guessed it — the state broadcaster.
Read the full story here.
PS - what do YOU think about this?
Did you know this happens?
It’s true, the government sells the broadcast rights to our national celebration of Canadianess.
What’s even worse is that they sell it in a way that makes sure only one broadcaster can win the rights — you guessed it — the state broadcaster.
Read the full story here.
PS - what do YOU think about this?
Keep on the CBC 'til it does the right thing ...
The easy thing, the convenient thing, would be to shut up about the CBC and get on with living.
But in conscience, how can one do that when the CBC is counting on Canadian lethargy and weariness with the subject to enable them to carry on spending taxpayers’ money and maintaining an aura of secrecy about everything they can?
Information commissioner Suzanne Legault does what she can, and has won decisions from the courts. But the CBC still doesn’t get it. It seems to feel if it can procrastinate and delay, Legault will lose interest (as predecessors have) and let the sleeping hog sleep on.
Quebecor Media Inc. has taken aim at CBC secrecy, and that’s a wrinkle the CBC hierarchy hasn’t had to deal with in the past. The CBC lashes out to defend itself by implying that it’s a TV rival that provokes this fuss over how CBC spends our money.
Read the full story here.
But in conscience, how can one do that when the CBC is counting on Canadian lethargy and weariness with the subject to enable them to carry on spending taxpayers’ money and maintaining an aura of secrecy about everything they can?
Information commissioner Suzanne Legault does what she can, and has won decisions from the courts. But the CBC still doesn’t get it. It seems to feel if it can procrastinate and delay, Legault will lose interest (as predecessors have) and let the sleeping hog sleep on.
Quebecor Media Inc. has taken aim at CBC secrecy, and that’s a wrinkle the CBC hierarchy hasn’t had to deal with in the past. The CBC lashes out to defend itself by implying that it’s a TV rival that provokes this fuss over how CBC spends our money.
Read the full story here.
CBC Salaries ...
The following graph is very interesting in that it shows that CBC salaries account for over 90% of the $1.1 Billion dollar annual subsidy that the CBC receives from Canadian taxpayers.
Maybe that's why the CBC is so adamant in keeping individual salaries so secret and fighting to keep the gravy train rolling. Canadian tax dollars are not going to cultural original Canadian content; they are instead being used to fund secret salaries!
Maybe that's why the CBC is so adamant in keeping individual salaries so secret and fighting to keep the gravy train rolling. Canadian tax dollars are not going to cultural original Canadian content; they are instead being used to fund secret salaries!
Mayor blasts CBC news segment on Cold Lake mosque ...
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland blasted a news segment which aired on CBC's The National July 7, saying the video wrongly portrayed the city as a racist community.
Copeland said the city has contacted the CBC to voice its displeasure over the news report and its portrayal of the city.
"The story should have been about the MD reversing their decision on the land sale. Playing the racist card ... just shows the level of ignorance on the level of reporting being done," Copeland said. "It's disheartening that this is supposed to be Canada's premier news organization."
Read the full story here.
Copeland said the city has contacted the CBC to voice its displeasure over the news report and its portrayal of the city.
"The story should have been about the MD reversing their decision on the land sale. Playing the racist card ... just shows the level of ignorance on the level of reporting being done," Copeland said. "It's disheartening that this is supposed to be Canada's premier news organization."
Read the full story here.
CBC head defends broadcaster on access to info ...
Hubert Lacroix said the CBC's record on accountability and access to information has been lost in general confusion or distorted in coverage of its court case against Canada’s information commissioner. Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault on Wednesday won a Federal Court of Appeal case giving her the authority to review documents CBC doesn’t want to release because they deal with programming, creative or journalistic issues.
Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.
The public's right to know ...
Considerable media attention in the past few weeks has been focused on the right of the public to know the compensation of political and other leaders, particularly when public funds are involved.
One such example is the Sun Media's crusade to reveal the salary and other expenses of CBC executives such as Peter Mansbridge. Another request involves the amount CBC paid for the rights to televise Canada Day celebrations.
CBC has refused to reveal any information citing competitive as well as journalistic needs for secrecy. While the need for keeping some information under wraps is understandable, including perhaps the amount spent on purchasing the Canada Day rights, other refusals are simply ridiculous. There is no sane rationale for hiding the salary and expenses of Peter Mansbridge and other senior executives.
The Canadian Broadcast Corporation is subsidized by you and me to the tune of $1.1 billion. As taxpayers, we have the right to basic information that does not jeopardize the Corporation's competitive position or journalistic sources. It seems that the courts agree.
Read the full story here.
One such example is the Sun Media's crusade to reveal the salary and other expenses of CBC executives such as Peter Mansbridge. Another request involves the amount CBC paid for the rights to televise Canada Day celebrations.
CBC has refused to reveal any information citing competitive as well as journalistic needs for secrecy. While the need for keeping some information under wraps is understandable, including perhaps the amount spent on purchasing the Canada Day rights, other refusals are simply ridiculous. There is no sane rationale for hiding the salary and expenses of Peter Mansbridge and other senior executives.
The Canadian Broadcast Corporation is subsidized by you and me to the tune of $1.1 billion. As taxpayers, we have the right to basic information that does not jeopardize the Corporation's competitive position or journalistic sources. It seems that the courts agree.
Read the full story here.
Debate over CBC accountability heating up ...
The taxpayer-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is subject to the Access to Information Act, albeit with exemptions designed to protect their journalistic, creative and programming activities. These exemptions are designed to protect the broadcaster's journalistic sources and to safeguard the planning and design process of its programming.
The CBC has received many requests under the Act from citizens who want more details on how the broadcaster spends its annual $1.1 Billion appropriation. Some taxpayers feel — legitimately, in my opinion — that any organization receiving such a large amount of tax dollars has a duty to be transparent about how it spends them.
Read the full story here.
Why Did CBC Give Airtime to Anti-Semitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theorist Eric Margolis? (December 9, 2011)
Best known for his anti-Western, anti-Israel, and even anti-Semitic bias, Eric Margolis’ habitual myopic portrayal of the Mideast region, promulgation of unsubstantiated allegations, and promotion of 9/11 conspiracy theories have seen this journalist be discredited as an unreliable and biased interview source. But that didn't stop the CBC from giving him a national platform.
Read the full story here.
What do YOU think?
Read the full story here.
What do YOU think?
CBC should compete in marketplace on level playing field ...
QMI Agency has had only limited success in attempting to pry information out of the state-owned CBC as to how it spends taxpayers' money.
Journalistically, the CBC has done some wonderful stuff over the years, but that hasn't necessarily made me a fan because the conservative side of me has never been able to escape the nagging feeling that this country does not need a state-owned broadcaster.
I just can't see pumping $1.1 billion of taxpayer money a year into a corporation that goes head-to-head with the private sector in the marketplace.
I believe that at a time when this country is deep in debt and has no idea where the world financial crisis may take us, that we can't afford the luxury of being in the television and radio business.
Actually, even without our deep debt and world financial crisis, I don't believe we should be in such a business.
I don't believe any government-owned operation should ever be in direct competition with the private sector.
Read the full story here.
PS - What do YOU think?
Journalistically, the CBC has done some wonderful stuff over the years, but that hasn't necessarily made me a fan because the conservative side of me has never been able to escape the nagging feeling that this country does not need a state-owned broadcaster.
I just can't see pumping $1.1 billion of taxpayer money a year into a corporation that goes head-to-head with the private sector in the marketplace.
I believe that at a time when this country is deep in debt and has no idea where the world financial crisis may take us, that we can't afford the luxury of being in the television and radio business.
Actually, even without our deep debt and world financial crisis, I don't believe we should be in such a business.
I don't believe any government-owned operation should ever be in direct competition with the private sector.
Read the full story here.
PS - What do YOU think?
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