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Freedom of Speech on the attack
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| Jayx1 |
And people wonder why I say we are becoming more and more like a dictatorship.
| quote: | .MONTREAL (CP) - A CRTC decision not to renew the licence of a controversial radio station amounts to censorship that can imperil legitimate news reporting, one of Canada's leading legal advocates said Wednesday.
"It's a risky business when those who have a coercive power of the state are armed with artillery like this," Alan Borovoy, chief counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said in an interview. Borovoy said the wording of Canadian-television and Telecommunications Commission regulations - describing material likely to expose people to hatred or contempt - is so broad it could endanger legitimate news reporting and public interests.
"Of course, freedom of speech is not an absolute," he said.
"There could be legitimate restrictions on free speech. But you're dealing here with the CRTC's licensing power. It's a very risky proposition to have a licensing power used in this way."
Borovoy was reacting to the CRTC's refusal Tuesday to renew the licence of Quebec City radio station CHOI-FM. The watchdog said the station repeatedly broadcast insulting and offensive comments, violating the Broadcasting Act.
The decision marked the first time the regulator has refused to renew a radio licence because of on-air views. It acted after receiving 92 complaints since 1997. Most were focused on a weekday morning show hosted by Jean-Francois Fillion that included a segment by radio personality Andre Arthur.
Borovoy said radio stations can be sued instead of censored if members of the public feel they have overstepped legal boundaries.
"I think the exercise is chilling," he said. "It's a chilling thing. They're using a very dangerous regulation for that purpose."
Most Quebec commentators also denounced the CRTC decision.
"Freedom of expression is one of the biggest achievements in our society," wrote Jean-Marc Salvet, editorialist for Quebec City Le Soleil.
"It is a seminal value and among our most precious acquisitions. That is why nobody should be happy about the closing of a radio station."
Le Soleil, which devoted its first six news pages almost exclusively to the CRTC decision, included e-mails on its op-ed page that mostly slammed the regulator.
Montreal La Presse said that while everyone might welcome the demise of a "trash radio" station, the CRTC decision is nothing to rejoice about.
"The most troubling thing is that in adopting an extreme approach, the CRTC establishes itself as censor and even threatens the principle of freedom of expression," said editorialist Nathalie Collard.
Imbeciles must be allowed to speak in order that the majority can express themselves, she added.
Montreal Le Devoir had a different take. Editorialist Josee Boileau said the CRTC put forth reasoned arguments and said Fillion and Arthur can't justify freedom of expression in making such remarks.
Some broadcasters seemed reluctant to weigh in on the issue.
But John Hayes, president of Corus Radio and a broadcast executive who once fired Howard Stern when he worked in American radio in the 1980s, insisted this wasn't a free-speech issue.
He said the CRTC had the right to act in this manner after the broadcaster thumbed its nose at the regulators.
"A responsible broadcaster would take steps to correct the infraction and make sure that it never happens again," he said.
"If they don't make some kind of ruling on it, or if they let the station off the hook after repeated violations, they set a precedent that is very dangerous."
Although most of the country's private broadcasters, including CHOI, are members of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, the group declined to comment, saying it's strictly a matter between the station and the CRTC.
CRTC chairman Charles Delfen declined to be interviewed. A spokesman said the regulator doesn't want to react to how its decision has been received, especially since CHOI owner Genex Communications Inc. has vowed to fight the ruling in court.
Fillion himself claimed the CRTC never really wanted the station around.
"So, this morning, when I read about these hypocrites and bureaucrats trying to make us believe that they gave CHOI the chance, that they warned us and gave us the latitude to improve, it's a bunch of bull," he told listeners of his popular show.
In Quebec City, many CHOI listeners honked their car horns Wednesday in support of the station and received "freedom" stickers from employees. The station claimed to have received 3,000 e-mails from listeners.
The controversial station also got support from Krome, a Vancouver rock band that credits CHOI for getting its career going.
"They're one of the first stations to add our singles," said Shawn Meehan, the 29-year-old lead singer and guitar player.
"They've shown us a lot of love, so I'm showing the love back and showing my support for them."
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| Jayx1 |
I agree. This thing against Moore is ridiculous as well.
What the hell is happening to this country? Freedom is disappearing more and more everyday! |
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| ShadoWolf |
| In other news, Al-Jazeera will be allowed into Canada. |
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| Jayx1 |
The fact that it had to get approval from the government in the first place is whats disturbing.
The Government basically controls everything we watch one way or the other. |
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| DigiNut |
| Here's one line of reasoning you should understand, Jay: If you don't like this country, why don't you go somewhere else!? |
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| malek |
man, that radio is pure garbage, deffamation 24/7. So many listeners complained to the CRTC.
CRTC did the right thing, the majority of people are not opposed to its decision.
freedom of speech doesn't mean you're allowed to say crap about everyone and anyone. |
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| tw1tch |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
Here's one line of reasoning you should understand, Jay: If you don't like this country, why don't you go somewhere else!? |
Makes sense, according to all his reasoning. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
freedom of speech doesn't mean you're allowed to say crap about everyone and anyone. |
but it's ok for Bin Laden to send his messages? |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | Originally posted by malek
man, that radio is pure garbage, deffamation 24/7. So many listeners complained to the CRTC.
CRTC did the right thing, the majority of people are not opposed to its decision.
freedom of speech doesn't mean you're allowed to say crap about everyone and anyone. |
worse than Howard Stern??? |
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| malek |
| quote: | Originally posted by ShadoWolf
but it's ok for Bin Laden can send his messages? |
if i say that you are an that should go easy on the whores, well, that counts as a personnal attack.
whereas bin laden making threats to the west is being brought in as information...
i think there's a difference, don't you? |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
Here's one line of reasoning you should understand, Jay: If you don't like this country, why don't you go somewhere else!? |
I love this country which is why it pains me to see what is happening to it.
Id love for you to have said that to Ghandi, Lech Walensa, Martin Luther King or just about anyone else who saw wrong with the country they loved and did something about it. |
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