Tag Archives: Brian Lilley

John Tory’s epiphany on the CBC

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Readers of Strictly Right’s predecessor will remember how frustrated I was with former Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader John Tory’s actions within the party after his crippling electoral loss(es.) Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to hear him in his new role as a talk show host on Toronto’s NewsTalk 1010 (CFRB.) While I still disagree with him on a lot of issues, one issue that I never understood was his constant defense of the CBC. Apart from social issues, John usually would take the ‘right’ stance on issues to do with accountability and transparency: Two departments the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation generally hasn’t paid too much attention to.

I can happily say now that Toronto bore witness to John’s transformation, he just railed against the CBC today, including a brief interview with Sun Media columnist (and future Sun TV News anchor) Brian Lilley. Lilley has been discussing the CBC’s shifty behaviors for a couple of weeks now, and thankfully the message is spreading.

Check out Brian’s latest post, and listen to the segment with John Tory (free audio.) The CBC is a giant who must be held to the same standards as every other Crown Corporation.

Brilliance from the CBC

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Running a nation-wide advertising campaign telling people that you’re transparent: Priceless

Sun Media’s Brian Lilley reports:

Under attack for its lack of transparency and accountability, the CBC has taken out expensive ads in newspapers across Canada, promising Canadians that they will be up-front with information.A series of reports this week from QMI Agency have highlighted the CBC’s refusal to release information under the Access to Information Act, and their ongoing court battle with the Information Commissioner, an independent officer of Parliament over who gets to see those documents.

While the ad boasts of tens of thousands of pages released under Access to Information, it fails to mention that tens of thousands of pages have also been released with all relevant information removed, the result being either blank pages or pages covered in black marker.

The CBC continues to claim exemptions under sections designed to protect their journalistic activities or protect the government on issues vital to the economic interests of Canada. As a result, they refuse to answer simple questions such as how many trucks the state broadcaster owns.

[...]

The key phrase is “Documents of interest,” meaning CBC will decide what they release, and what they don’t, for the public to view.

A review of what has been posted on the CBC website shows that hundreds of access requests have been left off the site for now, including expense reports for CBC president Hubert Lacroix. The 110 blank pages supplied to QMI for expenses by board member Louise Lantagne, and the cost of honorariums provided to board members, are also missing.

Lilley also adds that because “CBC spends public dollars and is therefore accountable to the public. That should mean full accountability, including the cost of these ads.” He’s absolutely right. The CBC has a lot to offer as a broadcaster, and as a business (Lord knows to whom, however.) It’s quite simple though: If there was a market for what the CBC offered, it could hold its own in the free market. No private corporations could get away with witholding information like the CBC did. Heck, even the military has a hard time getting away with blacking out that many pages of important documents.

There may have been a time where the CBC was required, but that time has certainly passed.

Lilley: Is the Tea Party movement Canada-bound?

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UPDATE: Join the Tea Party Movement of Canada on Facebook!

I’d sure say so! From Sun Media:

OTTAWA – Are Canadians getting fed up with government regulations, rules and taxes? The man behind an attempt to start a Tea Party movement in Canada hopes so.

This past weekend hundreds of thousands of Americans flocked to Washington for a rally about taking back their country. They came to hear speakers such as Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin, and although not explicitly a Tea Party event, the crowd drew many from the movement that calls for government to get government off the backs of hard working people.

Andrew Lawton wants to bring that spirit to Canada.

Lawton, a conservative-leaning activist from London, Ont., is one of the organizers behind an online attempt to start a Tea Party movement in Canada.

Starting with a Facebook group, Lawton says there are plans for rallies this fall in Ottawa and Quebec City. Other cities may be added.

There are differences between the two countries Lawton acknowledges but adds the basis of the movement is the same.

“The issues differ but the ideology stays the same. Advocating for smaller government, freedom and letting people live their own lives.”

“One person came up to me recently and said that freedom is an American value,” said Lawton. “That’s not true. It’s an attitude I want to change.”

[Continued here].

People on both sides of the political spectrum have expressed skepticism about the idea of a Tea Party Movement in Canada. Those on the Left think that it’s an avenue for fascist, racist, right-wingers to spout their hatred. Even some on the right are too worried about the “optics” of utilizing an American concept to advocate for Canadian values. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, conservatism and liberty are not American concepts; they are basic, fundamental truths that people in any country should embrace.

A prominent Canadian Conservative Party blogger and I had an exchange this afternoon where he was suggesting it be called something else. Why? People know and understand what the Tea Party movements stands for. As Kathy Shaidle said, “I envision the usual Canadian ‘conserv.’ bores/wonks bickering about terminolgy as excuse to avoid action.”

Stay tuned for some big announcements in the coming weeks!!