CBC leads 'get the facts' attack on Quebecor

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
848
113
71
Saint John, N.B.
Here's the full transcript:

What Quebecor won’t tell you about its attacks on the public broadcaster

For more than three years, Quebecor has been using its newspapers, and more recently, its SunNews Network TV license to pursue a campaign against CBC/Radio-Canada. But there are some things Quebecor won’t tell you:

  • Quebecor has received more than half a billion dollars in direct and indirect subsidies and benefits from Canadian taxpayers over the past three years, yet it is not accountable to them.
  • Quebecor uses this public subsidy and its dominant position in protected industries to make record profits yet complains that its TVA television network "competes” against Radio-Canada.
  • Quebecor boss Pierre Karl Péladeau has sent over a dozen letters to the Prime Minister and others in government to complain that Radio-Canada does not spend enough money advertising in his newspapers.

Quebecor says we’re not accountable. They’re wrong.

  • We report to Parliament through our Corporate Plan, Annual Report and Committee appearances.
  • We report to the CRTC through regulatory filings and license renewals;
  • We report to the Auditor General of Canada who reviews our books every year and who conducts a special audit every five to ten years;
  • We report to the Board of Directors, which is appointed by government to ensure that the Corporation manages its resources effectively.
  • We report to Canadians through the posting on our website of the cost of meals, flights, and hotels. We also post details of audits, Board meetings, quarterly financial reports, and over 27,000 pages of information released under ATI. See for yourself here.

Quebecor says we shouldn’t go to court to protect journalistic sources or program strategies. Why?

  • We, and the Information Commissioner, are trying to clarify the rules which protect "journalistic, programming, and creative activities”. This is the proper thing to do.
  • In fact, government departments and Ministers have gone to court more than 180 times with the Information Commissioner to clarify Access to Information issues.

CBC/Radio-Canada | Press Room | Get the facts

Some juicy stuff in this PDF linky linky

Simple solution.

Quit giving BOTH of these corporate entities my money.

We'll see which one still exists in two years.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
"his"....using "my" money?

I'm sure when you compare Quebecor's funding to that of CBCs, you can make Quebecor look like fluffy, little cupids jizzing all wonders of sparkly sensationalism all over our chests from the heavens above.

It's that same logic that allows conservatives to forgive their political heroes when they hop a flight on our dime.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
15,441
150
63
Just for some context, here's what the Federal Access to Information Act says:
EXCLUSIONS

Act does not apply to certain materials

(omitted non-relevant section 68 )

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
68.1 This Act does not apply to any information that is under the control of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that relates to its journalistic, creative or programming activities, other than information that relates to its general administration.

  • 2006, c. 9, s. 159.
Hence, why CBC is appealing. The law says CBC is exempt from the requirement to provide information that relates to journalistic, creative, or programming activities. The government could always....change the law.

Gasp. That's their sole purpose...to write laws and change laws.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
Hence, why CBC is appealing. The law says CBC is exempt from the requirement to provide information that relates to journalistic, creative, or programming activities. The government could always....change the law.

Well it is "the government of transparency" so this shouldn't be a problem for them.

And I'm glad that the Sun properly informed me of who the real culprit is for this transparency issue. ;)
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
Yeah you really have to watch closly to keep an invisible gov in line.

That's why I stand by Quebecor, who's been continuously pressing the government on this issue, instead of using it as an attempt to smear its competitor.

:lol:
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
15,441
150
63
And I'm glad that the Sun properly informed me of who the real culprit is for this transparency issue. ;)

Journalism sucks these days. I hasd to write an email to the Grey Lady this week because of some nonsense they printed relating to the ISA virus that (is disputed) was detected in BC sockeye smolts.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
This is starting to get confusing..
--

So, how much has Quebecor spent on outdoor advertising, Andrews asks. "Why would I tell you that?" Peladeau boggles. Hey, it's that irony thing again! "I think you're confusing everything, Mr Andrews," PKP notes: his is *not* a public company. Ahh, but that *is* Andrews' point, it seems: He's looking at the two broadcasters as competitors. It was PKP who brought up the question of outdoor advertising in his opening statement, Andrews notes -- so why *would* that be of interest to Canadians? Apparently, it isn't even all that interesting to PKP, who dismisses the suggestion that such information might be useful to his company. Also, he doesn't feel the need to advertise with CBC, and points out that the reverse was *not* true, at least before the "boycott."

(By the way, that last exchange eventually hit levels of liveliness sufficient to rouse the ire of the chair, who warned both witness and MP that there would be "no more hollerin'" at *her* committee table.)

Blaine Calkins muses not so idly about the implict suggestion that any otherwise private organization or individual that takes advantage of a tax credit be forced under the ATI regime, which gives PKP a second opportunity to express his vehement disagreement with the claims put forward by CBC in yesterday's release. Oh, and PKP also believes that the failure to advertise in Quebecor-owned newspapers is nothing short of retribution. Wow, he *really* seems to be miffed by the lack of ad buys by the state broadcaster.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
Logic bombs being dropped everywhere..
--

Also, doesn't Quebecor receive public money as well? How does it demonstrate accountability? Once again, PKP chuffs at the notion that he needs to be told how to run a business; Quebecor complies with all necessary disclosure requirements. Boulerice, however, sees "a lot of aggressiveness" against CBC from Quebecor - a "smear campaign," even. PKP finds that very surprising, since *he* was the one "treated as sort of a criminal character" by the CBC. It's *CBC* that started this campaign against Quebecor; meanwhile, journalists at Sun Media "are doing their work" - investigating a crown corporation. Should they *not* do so simply because CBC is a competitor? On that logic, *nobody* should ever investigate CBC, as he sees it.

I will say this: I quite like the term PKP uses for money allocated under main estimates: "parliamentary credit". It always makes me happy when someone references the supply cycle, no matter how obliquely. Oh, and according to PKP, every other media outlet is in a "conflict of interest" when it comes to investigating CBC because of the afore-tiraded-about co-mingling to which he has previously - lavishly and frequently - referred.

Back to the NDP side, and Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who wants to know why Quebecor refused to allow the CRTC to release the amount its subsidiary channels receive through the local programming fund; PKP confesses that he isn't quite sure, but seems to suggest that they're looking into it.

PKP notes that, although Quebecor does indeed receive money from the Media Fund, it is also among its most generous contributors. (There was something about Caisse Populaire as well, but I didn't quite catch the link.) Del Mastro does his best to put PKP's point into a more linear, easily understood format in his final intervention, and tuts his tut at the now notorious release from CBC, which he feels was 'somewhat inappropriate'. Does PKP feel the same way? Yes, it sounds as though he does -- he was "astonished" by the "abuse" that has been running, and the "false and malicious" information; they will, it seems, be following up. And with that, we're adjourned!
 
Last edited:

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,817
471
83
Sun News: The comedy branch of the Conservative Party?

In its short but feisty life, Sun News Network has emerged as the finest of comedy sources. I’ve said that before. But now it’s even funnier.

I thought few instances of rip-roaring satire in the history of Canadian comedy could match the time Sun News host Ezra Levant marked Earth Day by assaulting a potted plant with a chainsaw. Levant, wearing a lumberjack shirt and a hard hat, began by making a lengthy speech at a pulpit. He spoke about God, quoted from the Bible and mentioned twice that Earth Day coincided with the birthday of Lenin. For the benefit of those possibly confused, he made it clear he meant Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the noted Bolshevik and founder of the Soviet Union, not the Lennon from the Beatles.

Then an assistant fired up the chainsaw and, after some small difficulty getting a grip on the instrument, Levant committed an assault on the unfortunate plant.

Sheer genius. Earth Day, Soviet communism and a chainsaw wielded by a guy not too familiar with the instrument.

Then there was the time Levant ventured into avant-garde, provocative comedy. When NDP leader Jack Layton died, Levant donned an orange fright wig, wielded a can of Orange Crush (Levant really does like to wield something and one hesitates to speculate on what he does with his hands when he’s off the air) and sat down with Sun News crony Michael Coren to discuss how Layton’s funeral made a mockery of religion. Weird, you’ll agree, but funny in a weirdly out-there, shock-comedy kind of way.

Daily and weekly, the network has specific themes it uses to bond with its tiny band of viewers. Mainly, its theme is the CBC. In this, Sun News closely resembles the Conservative Party of Canada. For both outfits, attacking the CBC is a handy tool for gaining attention and raising funds. The Conservative Party does it all the time – connecting with its members by issuing dire warnings or canvassing members about how to cut the public broadcaster. Their themes, and their devotion to these themes, are so similar that Sun News might, in some quarters, be considered the comedy branch of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Why, recently, Conservative MPs on the House of Commons standing committee on access to information, privacy and ethics requested Sun News stars Levant and Brian Lilley to appear to jaw on about the CBC and the CBC’s assertion that some of its activities should continue to be exempt from the Access to Information Act (a matter before the courts this fall). They demurred, being wise showbiz slickers and knowing that their shtick would be diminished by absence from studio lights and the comedy stage that is the Sun News studio.

Mind you, as with all comedy, things can go awry on Sun News. One evening not long ago, on the program Byline, host Lilley went into one of his well-practised attacks on the CBC. He pointed out that the partner of Kirstine Stewart, boss of all CBC English services, is Zaib Shaikh, the sexy guy from Little Mosque on the Prairie and that the sexy guy might have production deals with the CBC. The fact that CBC has a policy on such matters, as does any modern corporation, cut no ice. A photo of Stewart, who is what is known as “a looker,” appeared. A photo of her beau appeared too, though he seemed to be in a leather jacket and wearing shades, looking like the terrorist in some old Bruce Willis movie.

Then Lilley made fun of the name of Hubert T. Lacroix, president of the CBC, calling him “Herbert,” “Hubert” (English pronunciation, for a laugh) and “Hubie.” Now, I ask you – is this funny? Well, I guess it might be at the fun level of schoolboys pulling the pigtails of the pretty girl in the playground and running away going “Nyah, Nyah, Nyah!” And then making fun of some other kid’s name.

Next, Lilley made a speech about “the cozy, economically beneficial relationship between the CBC and the consensus media.” That means me, and this newspaper. On the screen behind Lilley’s well-coiffed head there appeared a column I wrote about CBC-TV’s lack of arts programming. As the column sat there, Lilley talked on about “the beautiful, wonderful, glowing stories they run on how great the CBC is and yet CBC is the biggest customer of the Globe-owned business.”

Whoa, there, well-coiffed TV guy. On this matter, Sun News can lick my pecs, as they say in the comedy racket. (And yeah, there are pecs, twice-a-week Pilates does that, and the lattes help.) The column in question tore a strip off CBC for its failure to present arts programs on TV. The idea that this column and newspaper indulge in “beautiful, wonderful, glowing stories” about the CBC is so utterly at variance with the truth that it is hysterically funny. In fact, I was reminded of the time I had lunch with the boss of all English CBC services – the one before Stewart – and I made sure to keep my water glass full because the man was so angry about what I’d written that I thought he’d burst into flames at any second.

The thing is, Sun News Network’s tiny band of viewers might not be aware the column featured on Byline was a passionate attack on CBC. One assumes they know Levant is having a laugh when he assaults a potted plant on Earth Day. But they might not grasp the hilariousness of the idea of this column being ultra-cozy with the CBC. Comedy gone awry, as I said.

(In the matter of viewership, in the April 18-July 31 period, in weeknight prime time, Sun News averaged 25,000 viewers, CBC NN 111,000 and CTV News Channel 45,000. In mid-August, Sun News boasted of a breakthrough: One night, Charles Adler had 62,000 and Byline 80,000. This was an anomaly, as the next night Adler dropped to 30,000 and Byline to 19,000.)

At the same time, its viewers might also not be aware that Sun News Network’s owner, Quebecor, might benefit a lot from a diminished CBC. Or might benefit from details revealed under requests made under the Access to Information Act. On that, in a nutshell, CBC says it adheres to the law but is not obliged to reveal certain “creative” and journalistic matters because it competes for viewers with other broadcasters. In Quebec, CBC Radio-Canada is the main competitor of Quebecor’s vast media empire. See what I mean? Comedy gone awry again. Or, perhaps, not funny at all.

Still, Sun News does its noble best to keep the laughs coming. There was the time Levant made a visit to the Toronto CBC HQ and, before even entering the building, started bothering some guy. The guy was trying to eat a sandwich, and Levant kept pestering him, the way Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory pesters people, as when he knocks on Penny’s door and goes, “Penny! Penny! Penny! Penny!”

Levant has obviously seen The Big Bang Theory and was emulating Sheldon. Good for him. Comedy is hard, but practice makes perfect, even if there are unfortunate victims while the laughs are being polished. Just ask the potted plant.

And with that I leave you for about 10 days. Mr. Andrew Ryan will be your guide.

Sun News: The comedy branch of the Conservative Party? - The Globe and Mail
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
848
113
71
Saint John, N.B.
Sun News: The comedy branch of the Conservative Party?

In its short but feisty life, Sun News Network has emerged as the finest of comedy sources. I’ve said that before. But now it’s even funnier.

I thought few instances of rip-roaring satire in the history of Canadian comedy could match the time Sun News host Ezra Levant marked Earth Day by assaulting a potted plant with a chainsaw. Levant, wearing a lumberjack shirt and a hard hat, began by making a lengthy speech at a pulpit. He spoke about God, quoted from the Bible and mentioned twice that Earth Day coincided with the birthday of Lenin. For the benefit of those possibly confused, he made it clear he meant Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the noted Bolshevik and founder of the Soviet Union, not the Lennon from the Beatles.

Then an assistant fired up the chainsaw and, after some small difficulty getting a grip on the instrument, Levant committed an assault on the unfortunate plant.

Sheer genius. Earth Day, Soviet communism and a chainsaw wielded by a guy not too familiar with the instrument.

Then there was the time Levant ventured into avant-garde, provocative comedy. When NDP leader Jack Layton died, Levant donned an orange fright wig, wielded a can of Orange Crush (Levant really does like to wield something and one hesitates to speculate on what he does with his hands when he’s off the air) and sat down with Sun News crony Michael Coren to discuss how Layton’s funeral made a mockery of religion. Weird, you’ll agree, but funny in a weirdly out-there, shock-comedy kind of way.

Daily and weekly, the network has specific themes it uses to bond with its tiny band of viewers. Mainly, its theme is the CBC. In this, Sun News closely resembles the Conservative Party of Canada. For both outfits, attacking the CBC is a handy tool for gaining attention and raising funds. The Conservative Party does it all the time – connecting with its members by issuing dire warnings or canvassing members about how to cut the public broadcaster. Their themes, and their devotion to these themes, are so similar that Sun News might, in some quarters, be considered the comedy branch of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Why, recently, Conservative MPs on the House of Commons standing committee on access to information, privacy and ethics requested Sun News stars Levant and Brian Lilley to appear to jaw on about the CBC and the CBC’s assertion that some of its activities should continue to be exempt from the Access to Information Act (a matter before the courts this fall). They demurred, being wise showbiz slickers and knowing that their shtick would be diminished by absence from studio lights and the comedy stage that is the Sun News studio.

Mind you, as with all comedy, things can go awry on Sun News. One evening not long ago, on the program Byline, host Lilley went into one of his well-practised attacks on the CBC. He pointed out that the partner of Kirstine Stewart, boss of all CBC English services, is Zaib Shaikh, the sexy guy from Little Mosque on the Prairie and that the sexy guy might have production deals with the CBC. The fact that CBC has a policy on such matters, as does any modern corporation, cut no ice. A photo of Stewart, who is what is known as “a looker,” appeared. A photo of her beau appeared too, though he seemed to be in a leather jacket and wearing shades, looking like the terrorist in some old Bruce Willis movie.

Then Lilley made fun of the name of Hubert T. Lacroix, president of the CBC, calling him “Herbert,” “Hubert” (English pronunciation, for a laugh) and “Hubie.” Now, I ask you – is this funny? Well, I guess it might be at the fun level of schoolboys pulling the pigtails of the pretty girl in the playground and running away going “Nyah, Nyah, Nyah!” And then making fun of some other kid’s name.

Next, Lilley made a speech about “the cozy, economically beneficial relationship between the CBC and the consensus media.” That means me, and this newspaper. On the screen behind Lilley’s well-coiffed head there appeared a column I wrote about CBC-TV’s lack of arts programming. As the column sat there, Lilley talked on about “the beautiful, wonderful, glowing stories they run on how great the CBC is and yet CBC is the biggest customer of the Globe-owned business.”

Whoa, there, well-coiffed TV guy. On this matter, Sun News can lick my pecs, as they say in the comedy racket. (And yeah, there are pecs, twice-a-week Pilates does that, and the lattes help.) The column in question tore a strip off CBC for its failure to present arts programs on TV. The idea that this column and newspaper indulge in “beautiful, wonderful, glowing stories” about the CBC is so utterly at variance with the truth that it is hysterically funny. In fact, I was reminded of the time I had lunch with the boss of all English CBC services – the one before Stewart – and I made sure to keep my water glass full because the man was so angry about what I’d written that I thought he’d burst into flames at any second.

The thing is, Sun News Network’s tiny band of viewers might not be aware the column featured on Byline was a passionate attack on CBC. One assumes they know Levant is having a laugh when he assaults a potted plant on Earth Day. But they might not grasp the hilariousness of the idea of this column being ultra-cozy with the CBC. Comedy gone awry, as I said.

(In the matter of viewership, in the April 18-July 31 period, in weeknight prime time, Sun News averaged 25,000 viewers, CBC NN 111,000 and CTV News Channel 45,000. In mid-August, Sun News boasted of a breakthrough: One night, Charles Adler had 62,000 and Byline 80,000. This was an anomaly, as the next night Adler dropped to 30,000 and Byline to 19,000.)

At the same time, its viewers might also not be aware that Sun News Network’s owner, Quebecor, might benefit a lot from a diminished CBC. Or might benefit from details revealed under requests made under the Access to Information Act. On that, in a nutshell, CBC says it adheres to the law but is not obliged to reveal certain “creative” and journalistic matters because it competes for viewers with other broadcasters. In Quebec, CBC Radio-Canada is the main competitor of Quebecor’s vast media empire. See what I mean? Comedy gone awry again. Or, perhaps, not funny at all.

Still, Sun News does its noble best to keep the laughs coming. There was the time Levant made a visit to the Toronto CBC HQ and, before even entering the building, started bothering some guy. The guy was trying to eat a sandwich, and Levant kept pestering him, the way Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory pesters people, as when he knocks on Penny’s door and goes, “Penny! Penny! Penny! Penny!”

Levant has obviously seen The Big Bang Theory and was emulating Sheldon. Good for him. Comedy is hard, but practice makes perfect, even if there are unfortunate victims while the laughs are being polished. Just ask the potted plant.

And with that I leave you for about 10 days. Mr. Andrew Ryan will be your guide.

Sun News: The comedy branch of the Conservative Party? - The Globe and Mail

Yeah right......

That would all be fine, except Sun News slams the Conservative Party regularly......
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
Although I actually despise the corporate welfare, funny, half billion over three years, really is 166 million/year. Of which a paper trail must exist. There has to be an application, and that application will have a full description of what the monies are earmarked for.

So yes, the taxpayer does know what QMI is using the money for.

The CBC is getting 1.1 billion/year. And doesn't want to tell us what they're doing with our money.

Ya, I can see why the ideologues would want to make stuff up to tar QMI, for taking the CBC to task.
 
Last edited: