How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Earlier tonight I was looking at Facebook when I saw that one of my friends shared a link to a Huffpo article written by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. entitled "Regulators Reject Proposal That Would Bring Fox-Style News to Canada" In it he writes:
"As America's middle class battles for its survival on the Wisconsin barricades -- against various Koch Oil surrogates and the corporate toadies at Fox News -- fans of enlightenment, democracy and justice can take comfort from a significant victory north of Wisconsin border. Fox News will not be moving into Canada after all! The reason: Canada regulators announced last week they would reject efforts by Canada's right wing Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to repeal a law that forbids lying on broadcast news."
After reading the article while doing calming exercises so my head would not explode, I was left with several major questions that the author makes no attempt to answer - How does Canada determine what is true? What is the burden of proof? Who is the enlightened all knowing panel that determines truth and how does some one get into that position? These seem like really important questions to ask because the truth is very different to liberal vs conservative as is demonstrated by most of the statements made in the above article. Also if a faction gets control of the process to determine truth it seems likely the news would become anything but unbiased and truthful.
I was wondering if there is anybody from Canada or knowledgeable of the Canadian system to explain how it works so I can better inform my liberal facebook friend. Also what is the quality of news coverage like in Canada? From the little bit of research I have done so far, it seems the only real news choices as a result of the law are the CBC (the Canadian NPR) and the CTV though it appears you can get Fox News if you are willing to pay more for it. From my standpoint, I would rather have more new choices that are just honest about their biases and then I can determine for myself what is true. I guess I just do not have the trust in the omniscience of others as our friends to the North must have.
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Jan '11
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Mark Steyn might have a word or two on this.
I think the CBC is like the BBC and each province has it's own affiliate (eg: BC has BCTV). With the right antenna you can get US broadcasts. At least you could in the 80s.
(Nice to know that there is a least one other Arizonan on board!)
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 5:37amDec '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
I used to live in Canada, but that was a very long time ago, so I'm not as up to date on this as I possibly should be. Keep in mind that channel availability is largely driven by markets. Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world in terms of land mass. It's population is 1/10th that of the US and is less than the state of California. Considering the extremely low pop. density, it's not a big target market.
In the interest of "truth", I would suggest you ask your friends for a real news article on the matter. Attack the topic with your liberal friends from the standpoint of credibility. Robert F. Kennedy? On Huffpo? Let's see, that would give put the column on a level somewhere below The Onion. This particular member of the Kennedy clan has spouted unhinged blather enough times that even most lefties ignore him. He is the leftie equivalent of a Michael Savage, but with less honesty.
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 5:48amSep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Two words: Gwynne Dyer. He has the Order of Canada.
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Excellent questions, Nathan.
Jun '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
If your only loyalty is to a group, or the leader of a group, then of what use is debate? Your position has already been decided for you. But, if your loyalty is to truth and to reason, to weighing and picking the lesser of two evils--almost always the range of choice--then debate is absolutely required. If anybody wants less debate available, instead of more debate, they may need some cult deprogramming.
Sep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
You have to think of Canada as the Northeastern United States if they elected Barak Obama for roughly 30 years, PBS was funded by the federal government directly, Human Rights commissions ruled the land, single payer health care on the order of the Cuban and North Korean model (I do not exaggerate, Steyn has made the point before) was the defacto standard and they believed that only a government funded news source could provide them with unbiased coverage.
Canadians, broadly speaking, believe that it is a more serious offense to jostle in line when being marched to a re-education camp than to complain about the cirriculum offered.
Sep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
To wit:
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 7:15amSep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
TORONTO - Canada will be getting a new TV news channel believed to be patterned on America's colourful and very popular right-wing Fox News.
Quebecor Media Inc. says it's launching Sun TV News, ending months of speculation and anticipation in Ottawa over what had been dubbed "Fox News North."
Sep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Did someone say Mark Steyn? From NRO on March 1st, 2011:
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 7:21amSep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Sorry. How rude of me. I forgot to mention that here in Canada, we love, love, love our leading abortionists so much that we also award them the Order of Canada. To wit:
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 7:49amMay '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
So, when will you be leaving the People's Republic of Canadia for warmer (and freer?) climes? I hear Texas has some rip-roaring home prices. Anyone up for sponsoring a Canadian cat?
Feb '11
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
For many Canadians, the CRTC decision is about silencing dissenting opinions. The National Post’s Lorne Gunter sized it up by writing:
“At its core, what worried the left about the CRTC’s regulatory reform was that the Canadian public, if exposed to other points of view, might not choose the so-called “progressive” one. So in their own minds, this becomes about truth versus lies, not about competing opinions. It easier to ban other opinions that way.”
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/28/lorne-gunter-crtc-craters-to-pressure-from-left-on-truth-in-news-regulation/
And as others have invoked Mark Steyn, so will I but I will also invoke Ezra Levant both men know about a regulatory body attempting to silence them. Oh and Ezra will be working for Sun TV News (Fox News North for Kennedy), what could go wrong? Once Sun TV News is on the air, no doubt the CRTC and other regulatory bodies will be busy again, investigating dissenting opinions.
Jan '11
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
I've given up watching the CBC, it's just too frustrating. There is without doubt a left wing "bias" in Canadian news, but despite complaining, writing to the CBC ombudsman etc, in the end nothing changes.
I want to shamelessly plug my favourite newspaper in Canada - "The National Post". It is the most far-right newspaper in the nation, which means it would be right in the centre in the US. It's available on-line free, please have a look if you're so inclined!
http://www.nationalpost.com/
Nov '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
I do live in Canada and I do get Fox News and I do have to pay a premium.It's expensive compared to Ricochet's generous 'coffee cup' deal but Special Report and Fox News Sunday are the only tv news shows watched in our house.
I literally can't imagine what a Canadian Fox News channel would look like, as my perception of this country as a Leftist Heaven (that is the part of the country east of Saskatchewan) is reinforced every time I go to a dinner party with my friends and I try not to call them bigots more than once a season.
We do have more tv channels than CBC (NPR) in Canada and while I wouldn't call the news on these other channels slanted, it's trivial beyond belief. Their evening newscasts can cover the top 5 world news stories in 6 minutes of air time and then they showcase - just as the American Morning 'News' shows - a series of 5 minute infomercials on topics so mind numbingly inane that I'd rather be forced to follow a day in the life of Justin Beiber on Facebook than sit through even one segment.
Nov '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Erik, while I agree that the editorial pages of the Post have a right wing flavour, any of the other columns, articles and reviews by movie critics in the paper are so far left that even after President Obama has given up blaming President Bush for every evil in America they still manage to sneak in a crack on a weekly basis.
I look forward to seeing Ezra Levant (Bow ties and wild eye glasses included) on a fair and balanced news channel. I'm also looking forward to hearing the strangled cries of anguish from my friends who've been emailing at a furious rate trying to get petitions to keep out the Evil Empire of Fox News. I still smile with delight when I think of their reaction to the election of a right wing Mayor in Toronto!!! I'm not sure if they're angrier that he's right wing or .... shh ... fat.
Jan '11
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
How quaint. Nathan wants to raise reasonable arguments with his liberal Facebook friend.
Jan '11
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Linda, I am rubbing my hands together in delightful anticipation of SunTV, the new "scary right wing channel". I am convinced there is a silent majority here in Canada fed up with being given everything through a filter.
Sep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
I was hoping a Ricochet google ad would eventually feature a Ricochet sponsor a refugee program with a 1-800 number to Peter Robinson's garage, next to the lawn mower.
Sep '10
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
Oh no.
Re: How does Canada determine truth in the news?
I'm with Claire, Nathan. The questions you pose are just excellent--and of the self-answering variety. I like Canada. I have family in Canada. But this is nuts.
Oh, and welcome to Ricochet, even if I am a month late in saying so.