Is Stephen Harper set to move against the CRTC?

[EmilyKent]

Observers of Mr. Harper have long noted that he doesn’t take kindly to commissions or agencies or anyone else who tends to get in the way of his wishes. It’s only necessary to look at what happened at, among others, Rights and Democracy, Elections Canada, the Nuclear Safety Commission and Parliament.

So the question naturally arises: Do the CRTC board members actually think they can get away with delaying or denying Mr. Harper’s wishes on Fox News North? Do they really believe they have some kind of independent power?

The CRTC chair is Konrad von Finckenstein, and his term doesn’t end until 2012. But insiders report that Mr. Harper now wants him out well before that date and replaced by a rubber stamper. The independently minded Mr. von Finckenstein, who did not respond to queries on the matter, is reportedly being offered judgeships and ambassadorships, one post being Chile. So far, he’s not biting. But the bait might get bigger.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lawrence-martin/is-stephen-harper-set-to-move-against-the-crtc/article1677632/

[glarius]

1. This is frightening!

Stephen Harper is the worst thing that's ever happened to our country!

[HEyHEY]

2. Well, the CRTC sucks anyway

I'm glad they have stalled on Fox, but they've made some terrible decisions in recent years. As for this, I guess we'll see good points made here. However, I think Fox news could be tripped up by their recent donation to the republican party. We'll see. I'll tell you a story though;

About five years ago I was covering Bill Barisoff's win in the BC legislature. He's an MLA in Stockwell Day's federal riding. At the mixer afterward I was talking to Stockwell Day's right hand man. He ws raving about how great Fox news is, and I mean in a scary mindless way. Usually the staff of politicians, in my experience, are more measured people. The guy who was Barisoff's actual press officer used to, off the record, speak completely freely about the minister and would give his opinion good or bad on what decisions the government was making. ( I haven't thought of that guy in years and can't remember his name, but he was a good shit though we didn't always agree politically).

But Day's man was completely off the wall. If that tells you something about the kind of cult the Cons are we should all be worried.

[glarius]

3. I remember it was reported that Harper was in New York a

while back when the decision about Fox news north was being made and he was seen at a meeting with Roger Ailes, the creepy head of Fox news in U.S.A.,...and some other guy....I forget who....
Control freak Harper has had his greasey fingers into everything that has happened since he took office.

[CHIMO]

4. Fox News North

Is not Fox News. It is the name assigned to the new Sun News Network. As far as I know they didn't make any contribution to the GOP.

[glarius]

5. I think people are calling it Fox news because it will be a right wing

propaganda dispenser....just as the Fox news in the U.S.A. is.

[CHIMO]

6. Yes

Because it is right wing and in the same vein as Fox. You are correct.

However, I don't see how a donation by Fox will affect Sun?

It is completely irrelevant. It is either a misunderstanding of the article or an attempt to kill the issue.

[HEyHEY]

7. AH, yes, I forgot about that