Sunday, July 25, 2004

CRTC: Bureau/Auto-Cracy Gone Wild


Got to give us what we want
Gotta give us what we need
Our freedom of speech is freedom or death
--Public Enemy


The CRTC wants to lull us to sleep while they slowly strip us of freedoms that are not theirs to dispense. The minister responsible is Heritage Minister Liza Frulla:

Her email is Frulla.L@parl.gc.ca

This was my email to her:

Honourable Member:

I am extremely concerned about the infringing of Canadians' right to free speech because of the recent actions of the CRTC. This agency has overstepped its boundaries by closing down a radio station because of 50 or so complaints. Telus has received (at last count) a few thousand complaints, but is not being closed down. Because a few Canadians are upset about what an individual says is not reason to close down a source of media.
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CRTC's heavy hand is not an agent for positive change, but is actually repressing freedom. If the CRTC is allowed to continue making decisions like these, there will be a dangerous precedent as other government agencies seek to extend their powers over the electorate.

This is a serious issue. I hope that the CRTC is reprimanded and that CHOI is reinstated. Thank you for your time and patience.

Patrick McClarty
Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!


The Globe's Ibbitson writes a "I have no position" column on the CRTC so I won't even link to his BS today. When things get rough, you can tell who waffles in the face of authoritarian Ottawa. Ibbitson has lost some respect.

Here's Taber, who centres in on the RAI issue surrounding the CRTC:

CRTC faces backlash in Ottawa

By JANE TABER
From Friday's Globe and Mail
Ottawa — The CRTC's recent decision to refuse the licensing of Italian television channel RAI International is escalating into a political controversy that could force Paul Martin's new government to look at reforming the regulatory commission.

Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has spent much of her first 48 hours as minister dealing with this issue, after the Prime Minister asked for a formal recommendation on the RAI situation.

Sources say there is a frustration in the Martin government with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and its recent decisions, including those on RAI, Al-Jazeera and Quebec's CHOI-FM.

The RAI bid to the CRTC was a huge election issue among Italian-Canadians, with senior Liberal MPs promising that the channel would find its way on to the Canadian airwaves.

Still, last week's decision provoked outrage among the Italian-Canadian community, with hundreds protesting on Parliament Hill Tuesday as Mr. Martin's new cabinet was being sworn in.


We have to take the power back in the next election.

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