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Michael Moore accuses CBC of "acting like an american Corporation"

By Judi McLeod
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

  Tipped off by a blogger that his Oscar-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine was to be aired by a strike-bound CBC on the weekend, Michael Moore sent word that he did not want the documentary broadcast.

  Moore rushed a statement to network management condemning what he calls an "abhorrent" lockout of unionized staff by the CBC.

  It was a locked out CBC blogger who notified Moore about the scheduled broadcast.

  "I do not want my film being broadcast on the network unless it is willing to let its own workers back in to work and promises to bargain with them in good faith," said the statement, posted in full on www/parkdalepictures.blogspot.com.

  In the statement, Moore questioned why "the great and honourable CBC" was acting "like an american corporation" and called on the network to continue its "historical tradition‚ of respecting its workers and their union."

  Moore was off base when he accused the CBC of "acting like an american Corporation".  american corporations are into turning profits.  CBC is into taking profits--the $1-billion a year it gets from the Canadian Liberal Government, courtesy of Canadian taxpayers.  

  While hundreds of striking workers mill about downtown CBC headquarters, Canadians must content themselves to watch the antics of ashley Peacock and Irma Barlow on Coronation Street, a British based soap opera.

  Worse, while Canadian viewers are getting by without what some call CBC's slanted newscasts, many are calling cable giants to get hooked up to the Fox News Channel in order to catch Moore detractor Bill O'Reilly on the "the-spin-stops-here" O'Reilly Factor.

  The CBC's 5,500 workers, locked out since aug. 15, have been walking the picket in almost perfect summer weather.

  Sunday marked the first time Bowling for Columbine was shown for free on Canadian television.  The film was trotted out as part of the network's Turn on to Reality September Documentary Festival.

  as CBC Watch might say, "that's reality, CBC style.

    The network elected to ignore the marching orders of Moore, one of their most outspoken fans.  

  "as far as what our plans are for the film, we're going to put it on air," said CBC spokesperson Jason MacDonald.  "We purchased the rights to do that and that's what we're going to do.  Our audience are expecting to see it."

    But Lise Laureau, president of the Canadian Media Guild said it was irrelevant whether Bowling for Columbine was aired or not.

  Moore's statement, Laureau said, was "essentially emotional support".

  "What's important is that filmmakers, creators, (and) people who are out there in the creative community condemned the CBC for its actions of us locking us out.

  "and that's what Michael Moore has done." 

  Meanwhile, the only ones who miss the left-leaning CBC more than Michael Moore does are Paul Martin and his Liberal MPs.


Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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