The CBC's Mark Critch is a D-bag and should be fired.

?Impact · August 29, 2016

Last time I looked, the back room boys at the PMO and MPs were paid public servants as well.

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

Last time I looked, the back room boys at the PMO and MPs were paid public servants as well.

If we don't like what an MP says (i.e. if they make an inappropriate joke or comment), they may continue working for the next couple of years, but eventually voters will have the ability to vote them out of office. In effect, we can fire them.

We do not have that same control over individual performers working for the CBC.

The_Squid · August 29, 2016

But they don't get taxpayer money, above and beyond what's available to all broadcasters.

I also don't really think it does contribute all that greatly.

Certainly a comedy problem doesn't ad greatly to the nation's fabric, not to mention "new reporting and analysis".

So any comedian who is employed by the CBC must be funny to everyone, and no one must be offended?

We should start calling you "Social Justice Conservatives"!!

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

CBC Radio and CBC Newsworld contribute considerably to Canada. Look at what passes for news reporting and analysis on the other Canadian channnels - pitiful stuff. Anglophone Canada is in danger of being obliterated completely by US TV.

the fact that you might like what appears on CBC Radio or Newsworld does not mean that it is necessarily any better than what appears on other broadcasts, nor does it mean it "contributes considerably to Canada".

Boges · August 29, 2016

So any comedian who is employed by the CBC must be funny to everyone, and no one must be offended?

We should start calling you "Social Justice Conservatives"!!

Just responding to the idea that the CBC is a benefit to the Nation's Fabric.

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

So any comedian who is employed by the CBC must be funny to everyone, and no one must be offended?

We should start calling you "Social Justice Conservatives"!!

Here's a suggestion... maybe the government should get out of the Television and Radio business. That way, any comedian can offend anyone they choose, and it will be up to the viewer/listener to decide whether to continue listening and/or funding the performer.

The_Squid · August 29, 2016

Here's a suggestion... maybe the government should get out of the Television and Radio business. That way, any comedian can offend anyone they choose, and it will be up to the viewer/listener to decide whether to continue listening and/or funding the performer.

Great suggestion... maybe one day the Conservatives will form government... oh wait... I think they did recently, didn't they?

The_Squid · August 29, 2016

Just responding to the idea that the CBC is a benefit to the Nation's Fabric.

You are advocating firing a comedian because you were "offended".

SJCs strike again!!

Edited August 29, 2016 by The_Squid

August 29, 2016

Sure it was an unfunny joke, but a joke nonetheless. Whine about being offended if you wish, but should anyone really care if an individual is offended by the content of a very tame joke?

On the other hand the CPC website, along with other prominent conservative websites like the Rebel do not remove comments that call for the death of our non-conservative politicians including our PM. In my opinion, that goes well beyond a bad joke. http://thewalrus.ca/wanting-justin-trudeau-dead/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bpost-wanting-trudeau-dead

Boges · August 29, 2016

You are advocating firing a comedian because you were "offended".

SJCs strike again!!

People get fired for doing politically incorrect stuff in the media all the time. Making light of the response to a terrorist attack is pretty insensitive, especially from someone who makes his income mostly on the public's dime.

Edited August 29, 2016 by Boges

The_Squid · August 29, 2016

People get fired for doing politically incorrect stuff in the media all the time. Making light of the response to a terrorist attack is pretty insensitive, especially from someone who makes his income mostly on the public's dime.

Sure is insensitive....

can't have people walking around with hurt feelings...

So, please set this straight...

If a comedian gets paid by the CBC no one should ever be offended by that comedian? Is that what you're saying?

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

Here's a suggestion... maybe the government should get out of the Television and Radio business.

Great suggestion... maybe one day the Conservatives will form government... oh wait... I think they did recently, didn't they?

You're right... the conservatives did fail to privatize the CBC. I really wish they would have.

Its part of our political system... sometimes you have to pic a party with policies that are closest to your own, even if they don't exactly match. The Conservatives did not privatize the CBC, nor is it part of their current platform. They did however cut funding (whereas the Liberals increased it). Since I can't get what I truly want (a privatized CBC), I'd prefer having at least something that's second best (cut funding).

The fact that no major party wants to privatize the CBC doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a good policy, nor does it mean its not a valid point to discuss. Trying to tie it to the conservatives just seems to be an attempt to cloud the issue without bringing anything to the table. (If the NDP came out and said "privatize the CBC" I'd support them in that issue.)

eyeball · August 29, 2016

Did conservatives freak out when Hogan's Heros started airing?

BC_chick · August 29, 2016

Is there a faction of people that would find this attempt at humour even remotely funny?

It's not crying-hysterical funny, but I chuckled. It's definitely not unfunny.

poochy · August 29, 2016

He wasn't making light of anything. He's a comedian. He makes fun of things. I actually think it was funny, even though I agree that Harper was where he belonged during the attack.

Umm, that ignores the fact that idiots on the fringe left tried, and still do, to make Harper look like a coward with this nonsense. It wasn't right or funny then, and it isn't now, no doubt being employed by the country's largest purveyor of liberal media has no influence on the things it's employees think are acceptable. But of course, there could never be anything to that right?

SpankyMcFarland · August 29, 2016

I have been a news junky all my life. I don't notice the CBC being any more Canadian or of any higher quality than anyone else. In terms of local news, the local CTV outlet at least HAS a dedicated local news show, where the CBC does not.

I disagree. It may boil down to personal taste. I like all the regional stories covered by The National.

the fact that you might like what appears on CBC Radio or Newsworld does not mean that it is necessarily any better than what appears on other broadcasts, nor does it mean it "contributes considerably to Canada".

The detail, the content is what I am referring to e.g. Power And Politics. I just don't get the same level on CTV shows although maybe I'll take a look at Evan Solomon's show.

In my part of rural Canada, NL, there is no rival to CBC Radio or TV. The other stations have very little in-depth news coverage esp. on radio and their journalists don't ask interesting questions in interviews.

Edited August 29, 2016 by SpankyMcFarland

SpankyMcFarland · August 29, 2016

But they don't get taxpayer money, above and beyond what's available to all broadcasters.

I also don't really think it does contribute all that greatly.

Certainly a comedy problem doesn't ad greatly to the nation's fabric, not to mention "new reporting and analysis".

The nation lives online now. If we don't cover ourselves, who will? The US networks?

Commercial TV has its own agenda which is getting viewers for advertisers. Without a state broadcaster, less popular viewpoints will have a much harder time being heard.

I don't watch regular CBC that much myself beyond the news.

Edited August 29, 2016 by SpankyMcFarland

The_Squid · August 29, 2016

You're right... the conservatives did fail to privatize the CBC. I really wish they would have.

The fact that no major party wants to privatize the CBC doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a good policy, nor does it mean its not a valid point to discuss. Trying to tie it to the conservatives just seems to be an attempt to cloud the issue without bringing anything to the table. (If the NDP came out and said "privatize the CBC" I'd support them in that issue.)

The CBC remains extremely popular and it would cost any party votes if they tried to dismantle it. But that's a different topic altogether for a different thread.

The reality is that there is a publicly funded broadcaster, like ABC, BBC, and even PBS.

What I find most funny, and quite ironic, is that conservatives want someone fired because they're offended by a joke. Conservatives... the new Social Justice Warriors! :blink:

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

The nation lives online now. If we don't cover ourselves, who will? The US networks?

You're right! Nobody will ever cover Canadian issues without the CBC.

Well, other than CTV and global. And hundreds of private radio broadcasters. Oh, and several newspapers and newspaper chains (Sun Media, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, etc.) Oh, and several magazines like Macleans. And multiple on-line sources, some of which are uniquely Canadian, others which are offshoots of International media groups but still have Canadian reporters/sources (like Huffington Post.ca). So yeah, if you ignore all those Canadian sources, you have nobody to cover Canada.

Commercial TV has its own agenda which is getting viewers for advertisers.

Yes they do. However, "viewers" are not some monolithic group... you've got people spanning the entire political spectrum, from the extreme left to the hard right. And different sources are able to cater to the various groups. You have sources on the left like the Toronto Star, and sources on the political right, such as Sun media.

Without a state broadcaster, less popular viewpoints will have a much harder time being heard.

First of all, there is no guarantee that such viewpoints are actually worth being heard.

Secondly, as I pointed out, we have a wide range of sources, many which give different viewpoints along the political spectrum. There is little risk that less popular viewpoints won't have at least some outlet. (unless of course they're totally insane.)

Lastly, you may have heard of this thing called "the internet".

overthere · August 29, 2016

I disagree. It may boil down to personal taste. I like all the regional stories covered by The National.

The detail, the content is what I am referring to e.g. Power And Politics. I just don't get the same level on CTV shows although maybe I'll take a look at Evan Solomon's show.

In my part of rural Canada, NL, there is no rival to CBC Radio or TV. The other stations have very little in-depth news coverage esp. on radio and their journalists don't ask interesting questions in interviews.

That is all great comment.

Now get out your wallet and pay for your own education and entertainment, because I'm sick of doing it.

The CBC should go the way of the oldest public broadcaster in Canada- CKUA- and support itself via public subscription. Then everybody will get exactly what they want, and the people who love CBC can foot the bill. And yes, I do send $20 per month to CKUA.

Argus · August 29, 2016

Last time I looked, the back room boys at the PMO and MPs were paid public servants as well.

Oh please. They're political operatives whose job lasts only as long as the government of the day. They're not public servants.

Argus · August 29, 2016

The CBC remains extremely popular and it would cost any party votes if they tried to dismantle it.

Almost none of the people who like the CBC vote Conservative anyway.

segnosaur · August 29, 2016

The CBC remains extremely popular and it would cost any party votes if they tried to dismantle it. But that's a different topic altogether for a different thread.

First of all, the fact that a policy is "extremely popular" doesn't necessarily mean it is a good policy. You can probably point to a lot of government policies that were "popular" at some point but are now considered mistakes. As citizens, we should be willing to stand up for bad policies, even if we end up in the minority.

Secondly, it is true that there are many polls that show Canadians want to continue funding the CBC. But, at the same time, they aren't watching the CBC (its ratings are typically pretty bad.) Furthermore, I rather suspect that Canadians might change their opinions if the cost of the CBC were put to them in a more direct manner. (If, for example, polls asked "Do you want ~$25 of your money to be deducted from your paycheck to support the CBC, I suspect you might see support for the CBC drop. Its easy to support something when the costs are well hidden on a budget sheet and you don't see how it can personally impact you.)

I remember reading a poll that showed that while most people supported the CBC, the majority of people actually had no idea how much the government was giving them, with most people thinking the amount was actually around half of what they actually receive. Sadly, I've lost track of the link.

The reality is that there is a publicly funded broadcaster, like ABC, BBC, and even PBS.

The fact that its a "reality" doesn't necessarily mean we have to accept that reality.

As for your examples:

BBC: funded through license fees. Yet polls show most Brits want the license fee scrapped. Yeah. Lets do that to the CBC... wonder how popular the CBC will be when people actually see the direct connection between them paying the license fee and the CBC getting its money. I suspect support for the CBC will fall pretty darn quck

PBS: gets ~$445 million from the government, and that's in a country with 10 times the population. Canada gives the CBC roughly ~$1 billion/year. If we funded the CBC at the same level as PBS on a per capita basis, they'd be getting ~50 million/year, or roughly 5% of what they are getting now. Hey, I'd love for the CBC to be cut back that much!

What I find most funny, and quite ironic, is that conservatives want someone fired because they're offended by a joke.

I want him to keep working. At a privatized CBC. Where his continued employment would be due to if his jokes are not considered funny, (or at least funny enough to overcome any offense they might provide).

Boges · August 29, 2016

So I think the consensus is that it was a stupid joke. I'd say it's disrespectful to imply that the nation's leader at the time was cowering in fear in the face of a terrorist attack, but I am biased. Am I losing sleep over it? No.

But if I didn't like this type of humour I'm free to not support it, if he was being paid with private funds. However in the case of the CBC, this form of humour gets funding on the back of the taxpayer and people who did vote for the PM that's being made fun of.

I'd prefer IF the CBC gets public funds, it only gets it to provide useful information to the Canadian public. And anything else on the CBC that's shown for entertainment purposes needs to be paid for using advertising funds or mandatory carriage funds from cable providers. And how that money is allocated should be made 100% transparent.

Edited August 29, 2016 by Boges

msj · August 29, 2016

The CBC remains extremely popular and it would cost any party votes if they tried to dismantle it. But that's a different topic altogether for a different thread.

What I find most funny, and quite ironic, is that conservatives want someone fired because they're offended by a joke. Conservatives... the new Social Justice Warriors!

Exactly - funding or de-funding the CBC is for a separate thread.

This thread is about conservative's hurt feelings and the need to find justice in a cruel, cruel world of bad humour.

Or about a comedian who put up a picture on Instagram as a joke and then deleted it when called out on it.