2015.02.17 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild

 

Unions demand Harper apologize
for ‘shocking’ CBC/Radio-Canada remarks

Six unions are demanding that Stephen Harper apologize for inappropriate remarks targeting thousands of CBC/Radio-Canada employees who they represent.

In an interview Friday with a private Quebec City radio station that aired today, the prime minister said in French that “many” employees of the public broadcaster’s French-language network “detest” conservative values.

Harper’s public accusation is “absurd and unfounded,” the unions — including CWA Canada’s largest Local, the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) — said in a joint statement issued today. “Thousands of people work at the CBC/SRC across Canada and their political opinions are as varied and as private as every other Canadian. For the prime minister to single out and disparage a group of workers for not supporting his values is tantamount to schoolyard bullying (and) unbecoming of the office.”

CWA Canada President Martin O'Hanlon said Harper's comments are beneath the office of prime minister.

"It's disappointing to see the man elected to represent ALL Canadians attempt to isolate and divide us," O'Hanlon said. "Mr. Harper has a long and unfortunate record of trying to demonize certain groups — usually those he wants to chop — from bureaucrats to scientists to journalists.”

Harper’s claim in the interview, which went unchallenged, that Quebecers are not left-leaning and support his government’s low-tax, tough-on-crime agenda, was in response to a question about the Conservatives’ chances in Quebec in the upcoming federal election.

"I remain convinced that Quebecers are not leftists, contrary to the image conveyed by some media or the opposition parties," Harper said.

"I understand that there are many at Radio-Canada who hate these values, but I think that these values are the true values of a large percentage of Quebecers."

The unions said Harper’s “comments are just as troubling with regards to the independence of the public broadcaster.” Not only are they demanding an apology, but also a “correction of what he had to say in relation to the independence of CBC/Radio-Canada and its employees within the Broadcasting Act.

“The national public broadcaster must not be a megaphone for a particular ideology. It exists to allow for the expression of a large range of points of view, and that is what it does.”

“We note the comments were made in a radio interview in Québec where the Conservatives have only five of 75 seats. And in recent weeks there have been several massive rallies and public concerts supporting the CBC/SRC and highly critical of the Conservatives’ debilitating funding cuts.

“A growing majority of Canadians across the country state that CBC/Radio-Canada is important for their identity and culture (88%), appreciate the Canadian perspective provided by the public broadcaster (83%) and approve of the courageous reporting by CBC/Radio-Canada (90%).”

The unions that issued the statement include the CMG, Association of Professionals and Supervisors, Association des Réalisateurs, Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique, Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada and Syndicat des technicien(ne)s et artisan(e)s du réseau français de Radio-Canada.

 

For interviews or more information, contact Martin O'Hanlon (email / 613-820-8460).