Brandon Sun columnist James O'Connor reminds us that there's no downside to the lockout:
It will be a breath of fresh air to perhaps hear some proper reporting on the Conservative opposition, and some objective views on our southern neighbour and largest trading partner. You see, one of Mother Corp’s favourite whipping boys — second only to Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper — is United States President George Bush.
If the CBC strike drags on for a few week or months, I bet an objective pollster would find the fortunes of the Grits and Dippers slipping as the nation relies on more objective private broadcasters for their information. In fact, I can’t see how long Prime Minister Paul Martin will allow the labour dispute to continue. For sure he will discreetly demand it end before the Sept. 26 installation of his handpicked political operative to the Governor General’s office.
And the ski slopes in Hell must be packed because I find myself agreeing with the Canadian Labour Congress:
"The last budget gave the CBC new funding to put towards better service. Rather than using that money for better programming, it's being wasted on advertising at the competition! It's being used to promote an agenda that insults its workers and fails the CBC audience, as well as its mandate," insists (CLC president Ken) Georgetti.
According to Georgetti, the CBC is supposed to be a public broadcaster, a national symbol to showcase Canada's culture, it's people and our values. Those managers in Toronto and their bosses in Ottawa should be setting a higher standard.
"When the CBC claims that telling our own peoples' stories and promoting our own country's culture is no longer a worthwhile career path, then something is truly wrong," says Georgetti.
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