Comments on: Family ties

By: Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:05:57 +0000

Another great article Jonathon. You really did explain it well.

By: Shenping

Shenping — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:34:11 +0000

Maybe we should start calling them “CONwest” . . .

By: LeenieJ (imho)

LeenieJ (imho) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:34:53 +0000

uh, Doug, *real choice*? that might be a real problem for the power hungry teenie tiny minority group of privilige who need to keep riding us to feel “better than”.

By: LeenieJ (imho)

LeenieJ (imho) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:31:42 +0000

geez; pressed return too fast

shoulda meant to say (sic): “this institution [CBC], like *other* great Canadian ideas (Avrow Arrow), which again…” and so on.

By: LeenieJ (imho)

LeenieJ (imho) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:29:52 +0000

CBC provides a “national conversation” no matter how poorly it might be doing so. i don’t wonder why some want that stopped; since a majority of ppl in this country did not vote for this current incarnation of the min-con govt i doubt they’d stand for the further abuse of this institution which again was emulated by the US in the form of its own version called NPR.

the conservs are getting desperate; more and more myopic and insular. and their big biz supporters should beware that we are awake and watching. ppl should simply put their dollars into private companies who respect the national interest regardless of political allegiance–that would be something, a *real* Conservative that can respect independent thought, or other ppl’s political allegiances.

By: sbt

sbt — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:07:46 +0000

CTV is not owned by Canwest, it is owned by CTVglobemedia (and formerly BellGlobeMedia). Canwest owns Global television stations.

By: logic is key

logic is key — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:05:34 +0000

First, cvt is owned by canwest, so you do watch it. well and if you get your information from fox news, i’m sorry for your loss. But fox news has no respect for anyone and spurs false information. it doesn’t even respect or apparently need any allies, as some commentators can’t even respect our brave men and women who are fighting a war your ‘lameduck’ ex president started. The country was going to hell in a handbasket because the neo-conservative ideologies and agendas were being carried out by the bush administration in attempts to gain power over a country that did the u.s. no harm. There is so much war and violence accepted by american’s it’s sick.
Secondly, there is nothing wrong with gun control. I am not going to argue the fact, i just personally don’t need a gun or a weapon in my home and there are so many other sports out there to enjoy, i don’t know, i guess i just don’t need it.
It was a very sad story to hear about a young man being decapitated yes(never claimed to be a lib, but anyways), lots of people i’m sure do not agree with the mental illness sentencing, but our system is our system, and it can’t please everybody. I personally wish our current ‘conservative’ prime minister would have intervened, but then again, he is a con.
I didn’t see your ‘happy homecoming claim in the cbc archives, so unless you can provide a date some proof i’d say your just making it up.
And lastly, my biggest problem with right wingers like yourself is, your judge everybody, you make assumptions, you don’t learn the facts. The world is not black and white. Your so quick to call out others, and claim your leftest crap, it’s just simply not true. I love rules, and i don’t take acid. ty. There are more than two types of people in the world. come out of your bubble and see.

By: dan in van

dan in van — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:10:22 +0000

Since Harper had a private jaw-trimming with Rupert Murdoch during his recent New York escapade, which also found time for a special ‘Fox-only’ confession by our so-called leader, is it any wonder just how and who he’s planning on matching the Aspers’ sinking ship with? The only blot that may soil this despicable dalliance is the recent trash from Fox. That may get the general public up in arms.
But remember how Canadians responded that they didn’t want money going to helping hockey teams? Seems to me Harper and his right-wingers were vibrating loudly on that front. How can they get away with this double standard?

By: John

John — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:06:58 +0000

Good piece. My gut reaction was suspicious as well, given the links between the Conservatives and Canwest.

By: auroborous

auroborous — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:01:23 +0000

actually i don’t like canwest either. i generally prefer ctv newsnet or quite frankly Fox News. you leftist nutbars are why this country is going to hell in a handbasket. canada is a haven for terrorists and criminals due to the ridiculous controls on guns like the long gun registry that demonizes farmers and hunters and because our so called justice system is a FARCE. keep voting liberal and ndp but don’t complain (like your type always does when you are personally affected by crime) when one of your loved ones is decapitated on a bus and the perp can claim “mental illness”. Sickening. Leftists need to grow up and let the 60′s die. It’s over! move on.
regarding an offensive clip? ROFL! How about “Happy Homecoming” which was the title of the story about the illegal iranian immigrants who TWICE entered Canada under FALSE passports!!!!! Homecoming? it would only be a freakin’ homecoming if they were deported back to iran! Happy homecoming indeed!! That’s offensive; not just to me but to every bona fide immigrant who followed the rules. oh wait. your type hates rule…tune in, turn on and drop out or acid or whatever you freaks are into these days. God Bless G.W.!!

By: logic is key

logic is key — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:09:48 +0000

you clearly do not know anything about the cbc or canwest. I watch both stations each day and I am not sure what leftist propaganda you are talking about. CBC reports news, news means reporting on things that are happening in Canada, in our communities and the world. I guess you prefer canwest because they are more concerned about reporting american news and talking about celebrities. The CBC tells the story how it is, but maybe you should actually watch it before calling it’s content extrememly offensive. (i’ll be waiting for a link to an offensive clip)

By: generayburn

generayburn — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:02:12 +0000

Isnt there enough nutjob channels already to keep you happy?

By: Doug Slack

Doug Slack — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:53:45 +0000

There used to be a fantastic magazine called “Life”. It was a window on popular culture, politics, art and science. Eventually it failed. Thousands of magazines have filled the gap left by “Life”. All streamlined to specific topics.

Broadcast channels used to be community based feeds that would show us what happened in our neighborhood, our province, our country and our world.

Now, specialization of channels is the most successful model in broadcasting. Unfortunately, with specialty tv matching viewers to advertisers more efficiently, maybe its time for the ‘over the air’ stations to admit they are done. They are already dismantling their programming and are ‘hat in hand’ for the government to bail them out.

Local news and programming has succumbed to the fiscal axe – trying to maintain the 3 Canadian networks that make the majority of their money from American Programming. They are taking the money (and jobs) from local news, public affairs and entertainment programming and putting it towards purchasing American programming at rates highest in the history of Canadian broadcasting.

If there is to be a radical shift in broadcast delivery that will affect all Canadian tv watchers, please make it a well thought out option, not a response to media conglomerates trying to squeeze the last drops out of an outdated broadcast model.

If ‘pay for carriage’ is the immediate solution, give the consumers choice. If we are going to have to pay for ‘basic cable stations’, give us a choice. Eliminate the basic cable tier and let consumers pick and choose what channels we want to be our new ‘basic local specialty’ channels. That way we can control the financial impact and ‘vote with our wallets’.

Doug Slack

By: DavidfromLeftofCentre

DavidfromLeftofCentre — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:36:54 +0000

Publicly funded broadcasting is a sign a advanced societies. England, France, USA (NPR), Germany, Australia, South Africa, Japan, and Russia all have public broadcasters. They serve an important function. The reason some of these state communication vehicles tend to be criticised by the right, is that most journalists are educated in an liberal arts setting. Being hostile to public funding for culture is against the grain for many of them. I tend to listen to right wing demagogues as often as I listen to the CBC. I consider the CBC one of the most useful ways to teach new Canadians about Canada. It certainly helped me. I was born in England over 40 years ago, but moved to Canada in the mod 80s. I appreciate learning as much about this wonderful country as I have listening to CBC’s coverage of national and regional stories.
I think this minority government is trying hard to keep its western base (I lived in Alberta for a few years) where do it yourself is engrained in the people, as much in the cities as with the farmers and oilmen) and branch into Quebec (which is almost completely opposite in its social network views). Its a tough act which I am not sure can be won.
I favour reasonable government spending. Medical care, education and providing roads, bridges, etc. are top of my list. Govt. funding of specific industries in necessary at times, and while the current govet. is in favour of lower taxes, it is as viable as tax credits, but tends to benefit high earners more.
I am a centre leftist, unapologetically, and think that the govt. of Canada should not bail out specific companies. Industries are a different matter, and the form of support or stimulus needs to pass the house of commons.
Oilmen, farmers, manufacturing sector and forestry, always have their hands out, and we the tax paying public keep paying. From where I stand, they are all subsidised, and none is much better than any other.
Bah humbug to all of their business models that require continued govt. support.

By: glak from planet zork

glak from planet zork — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:45:18 +0000

No bailouts, handouts, paybacks, sweetheart deals, etc. thank you. Just let us pay for what we want and let the rest die.

By: auroborous

auroborous — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:07:29 +0000

Good thing the CBC is being hung out to dry. it’s about time. The Communist Broadcasting Collective (CBC) gets over a billion dollars of our tax money and makes sweetheart deals with its unions. It is unappologettically leftist and in fact, extremely hostile to those on the right. If it really is what it claims to be (a national broadcaster) then it should at least attempt to look objective. Why should my taxes be used to support political views and leftist propaganda that I find extremely offensive? There are more than enough vehicles for Canadian content thanks to the internet and multi-channel universe so if cbc can’t survive on its own then let it die. The time of massive government boondoggles has to end.

By: madeyoulook

madeyoulook — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:17:29 +0000

it intends to find out why the Harper government seems intent on helping private companies like CTV and Canwest Global, while leaving the publicly-owned CBC to fend for itself.
Was that last bit typed with a straight face?