re: Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and Censorship of Canadian Television
Television and radio should be as free as newspapers, magazines and the internet. Why is there still the ability to silence TV and radio broadcasters in Canada? Please abolish the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. I wish the choice to hear the opinions of various Canadian TV and radio broadcasters of my choice, not hear the same opinions on every station and channel.
If the CBSC has the ability to force an apology or a retraction from a TV broadcaster, then they are a censor, as such, they have no place in Canada. When stating an opinion, TV broadcasters should be subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and should not fear being judged and subsequently silenced for said opinion. Complaints from a few Canadians should also not be enough to have any TV broadcaster investigated. I could almost take the CBSC seriously if they investigated a TV broadcaster after receiving hundreds or thousands of complaints, not six. Does that mean that if Canadians agree with - or are ambivalent to - the TV broadcasters’ opinion, we too have to write to the CBSC to ask that they not be investigated for their opinions?
The federal government has repealed Section 13 of the Human Rights Act which is a step in the right direction. Now people can state their opinions publicly and within reason, without fear of court time and judgement. With this, it’s time to abolish the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council for the same reason. As far as I understand it, most of the TV broadcasters on Canadian TV are Canadians, with personal opinions and should be subject to the same laws as the rest of us
Regards,
C.J. McCullough
Calgary, AB
I've sent this by email to pm@pm.gc.ca and james.moore@parl.gc.ca. I encourage anyone who agrees with getting rid of the CBSC to do the same. Censorship of any kind in Canada is unacceptable. I have a problem with one group telling another what they may and may not say, hear, see, and read. That's exactly what the CBSC is doing.
Write your own or copy and modify my letter as long as the spirit is still there.
