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[deleted]•

What government hasn’t occasionally been angry at the CBC and its handling of the news? Are we to believe that politics won’t come into play — even if only in some subtle, subconscious way — when the government helps to renegotiate David Suzuki’s contract?

This, basically. I expect the usual union-busters to say their piece. I like VIA Rail's right to collective bargaining as much as the next man, but I understand their elation. That's not the point, though.

It's the tacit editorial control over the CBC that's really worrying me. One might say that since "we" give the CBC so much money, "we" ought to have more control over its content; this opens the door to the standard "state-run media" strawman, but once the government wields this much power over the CBC, it'll actually be true!

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elktamerAlberta•

What is David Suzuki's current contract? There's lot of room between getting information about what those contracts are, and firing Suzuki because of his political views.

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[deleted]•

I didn't say anything about firing anybody. The thing I'm concerned about is editorial influence. I think my comment made that pretty clear.

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elktamerAlberta•

Yes, but concern for editorial control is an argument that no one is having. The government isn't asking for it, no one thinks they should have it, and it's not a logical result of getting information about the CBC budget.

Do you think we should know where the CBC is spending it's money?

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[deleted]•

concern for editorial control is an argument that no one is having

Except me, and the article's author. Geez. For that matter, influence != control, and I think it's disingenuous to use one for the other.

The government isn't asking for it, no one thinks they should have it, and it's not a logical result of getting information about the CBC budget

Did you read the article?

"The budget implementation bill tabled last week contains provisions that will allow the government to intervene in the collective bargaining and executive salary negotiations of more than 40 Crown corporations, including VIA Rail, Canada Post and, most problematically, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp."

Right there. This is less of a rhetorical flourish and more a filler line to prevent the above quoted text from merging with the below quoted text.

Do you think we should know where the CBC is spending it's money?

If it'll be used in conjunction with the government's newly mandated ability to "intervene in the collective bargaining and executive salary negotiations", then no!!! As I said in my first comment, that turns state-funded media into state-run media, and I don't think anyone here wants that.

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RatedPEGI18SuperstarUncommon Nonsense Revolutionary•

Editorial influence? By the Tories? Over the CBC? The Tories?

Stephen Harper will coach the Maple Leafs to a Cup before anyone at the CBC takes direction from anyone on the right, whether they control the purse strings or not. The Tories wouldn't waste their breath trying to get a fair treatment from the CBC. Since they don't have the guts to sell it off, they'll just lower funding and ignore it. They do love their half measures.

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