Canadian Federal Politics Thread v5

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Damn, I didn't know the news industry was so ####ty in Canada and that the only real journalists are found at CBC, Toronto Star and Canadian Press.

Yup, it's a sad state.


Well, there are a few independents who are great, like Justin Ling. And the odd pro still left at places like the Herald. But most of what people actually consume and share is straight up garbage.


And I know you were being facetious, but take away the sarcasm and you are correct.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

It is mainly an indictment of broadcast news today. But it’s worth considering why the CBC News ratings have fallen faster and steeper than CTV News.

CTV also recently cut all of its regional noon news coverage with the exception of Toronto.

Broadcast news is becoming less viable every passing year, but a network with pockets as deep as Bell Media's will typically have greater viewership as it's a lead-in to desirable primetime content, most of which is not original programming. Networks like CTV and Global simply have a broader appeal, and while that's a simplified explanation it's a big reason CBC's news programming does not produce the same numbers.

The general 5 o'clock news doesn't vary much from network to network, so it typically boils down to personal preference that could be based in a myriad of reasons.

As for comparisons to the BBC I was mostly pointing out that it's an offshoot of the original Crown Corporation and takes most of its cues from that established structure. Admittedly, I never watch BBC news so I can't comment on contrast.

It's probably changed somewhat in the last number of years as networks try and stay relevant under the weight of 24 hour news cycles, but when I was actively monitoring the breadth of network sources in Canada and the US the bias was negligible despite commonly held beliefs. CBC doesn't skew any further than any other network outside of the obvious outliers such as CNN, Fox, Rebel, etc.

As mentioned media literacy definitely muddies the waters, but that's the problem of the consumer.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Why would you delude yourself? Why wouldn't you take his word,s which he has been saying for year,s at face value?



https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poi...edia-1.7136583


This is why I have such disdain for voters like you. You blatantly ignore reality, hope something else will happen despite all facts pointing elsewhere, then go hide when they actually do what they said they would do(or telegraphed for ages before).





....and then all Trudeau haters repeat this kind of trash, dismissing and devaluing the hard work of the only real journalists left in this country. We see it around here all the time. Posters believe and spread this nonsense, then scurry off to their own sources run by grifters to hand out money to hack "commentary" writers who are the ones that actually write propaganda, and then posters treat that as fact and enlightenment. This is exactly how we end up with Danielle Smith. And now we'll end up with Pierre, too, and all the good parts you like about CBC will vanish and you will be left in a daze wondering how it all happened.


Be. Better.

How would you know how I vote? You say I ignore reality, but the reality is that the Conservatives were in power for nearly a decade and never really defunded the CBC.

What will probably happen is that their mandate will become more focused and perhaps a cut to funding to coincide with the reduced mandate and that will be played off as a win. The Conservatives will continue to fundraise on this win and play it off like they are fighting the good fight.

The likelihood that $1+ billion dollars is going to be cut from the CBC, allowing it in essence to collapse quickly, small town and rural Canada going to be left with little to no radio/tv/sports coverage is low in my opinion. It's not politically popular, you don't need to rock the boat this much for little political gain.

I actually like the CBC but I also don't think they need to be involved in as many things as they are, a more narrow focus.

As for your comments about hack writers and commentators, I am a bit confused. Do the Liberals/NDP/Greens not play the same game? All political parties play the same game when it comes to the media and have their talking points, their pundits and more. Sooner or later the media types get sick of the BS from the people in power and start to push back more aggressively. I am starting to notice significant pushback from MSM on the Trudeau government for basic things like a lack of economic plan, housing crises and other issues to Canadians like immigration resettlement/affordability and more.

How we end up with ANYBODY in power in Canada is through elections and democracy in action and a realization that once in a while, your side rocks and your side is ****ing the bed bad. When I say your side I mean whoever's, including mine, which may also be yours? I don't know.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by curves2000

How would you know how I vote? You say I ignore reality, but the reality is that the Conservatives were in power for nearly a decade and never really defunded the CBC.

The Conservatives of PP are not the Conservatives of Harper. Trying to predict what PP is going to do based on what Harper did will lead to completely wrong expectations.

[Firebot]

Interesting, the usual suspects sure had quite the circlejerk this weekend flinging thinly veiled attacks at all opinions that don't match theirs, all over an innocent CBC comedy skit that was posted and subsequent comments that clearly seems to have ruffled a few feathers.

Singh and the NDP today is calling a motion on recognizing Palestine as a state. NDP and BQ are voting for it, Liberal and CPC are looking set to vote against it.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/deba...hood-1.6811956

Poilievre also pushing hard on the April carbon tax hike including a request for an emergency debate (which he knows cannot be granted but done for pure grandstanding). Liberal retort in the house of commons during question period seems to be carbon tax hike represents "cold hard cash" for Canadians. It appears that Liberals are no longer primarily using climate change as the reason behind it, but using the cash in your pocket angle instead. Odd angle, we will see how it goes.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10367091/...rgency-debate/

It will be interesting to see how the NDP votes on the carbon tax hike pause motion, I expect they will vote against it on principle. Carbon tax remains a hot issue and the longer it stays in the forefront of news, will force the Liberals (and in conjunction the NDP) to be on the defensive on what is a very unpopular tax.

One comment, why the heck did the CPC choose "Spike the hike" as the slogan for stopping the carbon tax hike? It sounds so stupid, some political slogans work, this one doesn't. Anyways overall pretty bland Monday in politics.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Interesting, the usual suspects sure had quite the circlejerk this weekend flinging thinly veiled attacks at all opinions that don't match theirs, all over an innocent CBC comedy skit that was posted and subsequent comments that clearly seems to have ruffled a few feathers.

lol wut

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Yamer

As a person with a degree in Communications and Media Studies I absolutely love this conversation.

I got that degree by essentially reading academic articles and conducting primary research on media bias for 4 straight years. The last remaining kick I get out of it is hearing people bitch and moan about CBC's partisanship. What a hoot.

It's all a myth, plain and simple, concocted by people that don't want to pay for a public broadcaster. It's OK to hold that position. The fun part is watching people construct silly reasons to justify that position.

The CBC will never go against the Liberals, even when they are funded by an elected federal Conservative party. When they do it's because they are expecting to be funded by a federal Conservative party, even though the funding (which is NOT 100% public) isn't dependent on politics. Unless, of course, a populist comes along and starts farting out "Defund the CBC" as part of their platform because they have convinced the hoopleheads that the CBC are, somehow, the enemy.

People don't understand how fundamentally important a network like CBC is to Canadian culture and the arts. So many artists and content creators directly cite the CBC and public interest in the arts as their launching pads. HNIC, The Nature of Things, the Beachcombers, and Kids in the Hall are legendary cornerstones of Canadian identity. Little Mosque on the Prairie, Kim's Convenience, Anne of Green Gables, Heartland, and Murdoch Mysteries may not be your personal cup of tea, but are all internationally recognized and popular series putting Canadian art on the ####ing map.

Schitt's Creek practically swept an entire year of Emmys in the comedy category. Kim's Convenience launched Simu Liu's career. SCTV catapulted nearly the entire cast into Hollywood stardom.

Their news and journalist divisions are directly influenced by the BBC and are consistently lauded as the brightest and best of Canadian reporting. That is independent of regional and federal broadcasting: all media has constantly been recognized as the pinnacle of news reporting in Canada.

The CBC is neither more vulnerable nor beholden to any corporate or political partisanship than any other network on the air. The problem you have is that you're paying for it in your taxes. That's it, that's all. Stop trying to make it anymore than that, and stop trying to justify your position with poorly informed thinking.

I personally don't care about their political leanings, nor do I whine about 'Liberal Media OMG' like some here do about 'Post Media OMG.'

End of the day if government is going to subsidize media & news it should ONLY be done at a local & provincial level because those areas are almost impossible to cover by a private company and make a profit. Especially local news. And if we don't fund local news outlets to a degree, Facebook tends to fill the void as the the only 'local news' platform, and we all know how that goes.

[Fuzz]

Why not national and international as well?

[Azure]

News? Like Cliff posted out is isn't exactly good. If it were top notch, it would be a different story. But even then its dumb. There are private companies that can do it better and adapt to the changing climate of news a lot faster.

I would honestly much rather support more investigate reporting like The Fifth Estate. I don't think it gets enough support of recognition for what it they do and its an important service to help protect Canadians.

[Wormius]

Until it’s not profitable and they cut all their staff.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Until it’s not profitable and they cut all their staff.

Which is already happening.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Azure

News? Like Cliff posted out is isn't exactly good. If it were top notch, it would be a different story. But even then its dumb. There are private companies that can do it better and adapt to the changing climate of news a lot faster.

I would honestly much rather support more investigate reporting like The Fifth Estate. I don't think it gets enough support of recognition for what it they do and its an important service to help protect Canadians.

I can't imagine looking at the state of media in a country like the U.S., where it's almost exclusively privatized, and saying "Yep. We need to be more like them."

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Azure

News? Like Cliff posted out is isn't exactly good. If it were top notch, it would be a different story. But even then its dumb. There are private companies that can do it better and adapt to the changing climate of news a lot faster.

I would honestly much rather support more investigate reporting like The Fifth Estate. I don't think it gets enough support of recognition for what it they do and its an important service to help protect Canadians.

Oh, well if Cliff posted it, then absolutely. It must be unbiased and true. Cut it!

Private companies aren't covering the diverse range of issues with a Canadian perspective like the CBC does. Do they even send reporters overseas anymore?

And remember, once it's gone, it's gone. We aren't getting it back. Just because you don't value it, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. I'd argue most of the people who hate the CBC in these threads(and probably Canada in general) would be a lot better off watching it, because their knowledge and media literacy gets repeatedly corrected. Our democracy is stronger with truth from the media, and the CBC is an ally in that, not an enemy.

Is the CBC perfect? No, of course not, but what is? Take the good, and don't worry so much about the rest. Because I can assure you, politicians are pissing your tax dollars away on a lot less worthy initiatives.

[btimbit]

CBC is pretty much all we've got left for decent news. I was always a CTV guy but after their latest rounds of cuts they've been garbage

I do like the people that cry about bias, especially whenever it's say, a story about the Liberals and they say something like "This is an important story but of course the CBC isn't even covering it!" and I go to cbc.ca and it's literally on the front page

People just see what they want to see

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by btimbit

CBC is pretty much all we've got left for decent news. I was always a CTV guy but after their latest rounds of cuts they've been garbage

I do like the people that cry about bias, especially whenever it's say, a story about the Liberals and they say something like "This is an important story but of course the CBC isn't even covering it!" and I go to cbc.ca and it's literally on the front page

People just see what they want to see

Meanwhile, there have now been countless instances of the National Post being caught essentially lying its ass off to create a narrative, and yet the same posters (who also coincidentally think the CBC has a bias problem) continue to post articles from them as if they're an unbiased source.

[chemgear]

Not really surprising these days.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10369563/...leaed-on-bail/

An Ontario gun trafficker released on bail 3 times is nowhere to be found

A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the capture of a convicted firearms trafficker after he was released on bail for a third time and skipped his sentencing, Toronto police say.

Cunningham was convicted on Nov. 27, 2020 of several firearms trafficking charges.

“He has been released on bail three times,” Watts said.

“Each time he has violated his release conditions before being arrested and released on bail again…. Not surprisingly, he did not appear once again for a sentencing hearing.”

Police said it’s suspected he is “continuing his criminal activities” and is likely using an alias and false ID.

The Bolo Program website says Cunningham was initially released on bail while awaiting trial. He was then arrested for violating his conditions and released a second time, the website says.

While awaiting sentencing, he was arrested again for violating his release conditions before being released on bail for a third time and then he didn’t show up for sentencing, Bolo says.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Not really surprising these days.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10369563/...leaed-on-bail/

An Ontario gun trafficker released on bail 3 times is nowhere to be found

A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the capture of a convicted firearms trafficker after he was released on bail for a third time and skipped his sentencing, Toronto police say.

Cunningham was convicted on Nov. 27, 2020 of several firearms trafficking charges.

“He has been released on bail three times,” Watts said.

“Each time he has violated his release conditions before being arrested and released on bail again…. Not surprisingly, he did not appear once again for a sentencing hearing.”

Police said it’s suspected he is “continuing his criminal activities” and is likely using an alias and false ID.

The Bolo Program website says Cunningham was initially released on bail while awaiting trial. He was then arrested for violating his conditions and released a second time, the website says.

While awaiting sentencing, he was arrested again for violating his release conditions before being released on bail for a third time and then he didn’t show up for sentencing, Bolo says.

Why is this a federal politics issue? The Superior Court of Ontario set his bail conditions, did they not?

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Why is this a federal politics issue? The Superior Court of Ontario set his bail conditions, did they not?

The federal government loosed bail and sentencing provisions through things like Bill-5 and Bill-75. The federal Justice Minister had to promise changes last year as bail loopholes and crime made the news as provincial justice ministers were warning him about increasing problems the year prior to that. Not sure if any of those changes were ever made.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lib...nges-1.6775341

I assume his bail conditions were legal and followed the laws laid out by the government.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by chemgear

The federal government loosed bail and sentencing provisions through things like Bill-5 and Bill-75. The federal Justice Minister had to promise changes last year as bail loopholes and crime made the news as provincial justice ministers were warning him about increasing problems the year prior to that. Not sure if any of those changes were ever made.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lib...nges-1.6775341

I assume his bail conditions were legal and followed the laws laid out by the government.

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the added context.

[Firebot]

To add to what chemgear said, the Liberal party did put in Bill C-48, but that bill was met with very mixed reactions.

https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/ne...-policy/380110

Those reforms the way I read it (has to be a repeat offender and used the firearms) would not have impacted this particular case (much how the Liberal Party's firearms ban would not have stopped this already illegal act from happening).

that is alleged to involve, or whose subject-matter is alleged to be, a firearm, a cross-bow, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device, any ammunition or prohibited ammunition or an explosive substance, and that is alleged to have been committed while the accused was under a prohibition order within the meaning of subsection 84(1), including a release order made under this section, that prohibited the accused from possessing any of those things;

It's also not a surprise how a police officer telling car owners to leave their keys at the front door to avoid home invasions turned into global ridicule and continuously make headlines . It may have been a Toronto police officer stating this, but law enforcement and judges must follow the criminal code which is federally legislated.