An Open Letter To Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Prime Minister Harper;

It's time to do something about the CBC. More specifically, it's time to eliminate all public funding for this organization and allow it to sink or swim on it's own merits. As I'm sure you're aware, the primary function of this organization is the gathering and broadcasting of the daily news. As I'm sure you're also aware, news organizations and journalists have to be impartial with all but op-ed pieces if they are to maintain the trust of the public. Human nature dictates bias based on perception and journalists are supposed to be trained to turn this bias off with their reporting.

It has become painfully clear recently that the people involved with CBC news are not willing to maintain that impartiality. I would like to quote Tony Burman, Editor in Chief of CBC News from one of his recent "Letters From the Editor":

There is another reason I think the story of the two Canadians, James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, and their colleagues resonated so strikingly with Canadians.

It coincided with some of the main conclusions of a major study the CBC has conducted about what Canadians "want" and "need" from their news media.

According to this study, more Canadians than ever feel that news shouldn't be a passive process. It should stimulate action and engagement, and help connect Canadians with the major challenges of our times.

(emphasis mine)

Based on a "CBC study", Mr. Burman wants to move away from passive gathering and broadcasting of the news, the facts, and move towards activism. As the "Editor in Chief", he sets the direction the organization takes and this direction will not serve the Canadian interest Mr. Harper. I say this because their brand of "activism" is of a destructive nature. They are clearly biased toward the failed concept of socialism with documented proof of said bias being collected and displayed daily.

Another quote from Tony Burman from another "Letter From The Editor":

At the CBC, we decided not to show the original cartoons in our extensive coverage of the controversy. We felt that we could easily describe the drawings in simple and clear English without actually showing them. This was intended, without embarrassment, as an act of respect not only for Islam but for all religions.

Why should we insult and upset an important part of our audience for absolutely no public value? We wouldn't have done that if it involved overt examples of racism, or anti-Semitism or libel. Where do we draw the line?

Shouldn’t the media be part of the solution, not the problem?

As illustrated in the quote above, the CBC, under Mr. Burman's direction, also actively practices in, and promotes, censorship when discussing matters relating to our western freedoms.

Freedom is an interesting word Mr. Harper. As Canadians we have the freedom to provide funding and support to any number of activist groups should we choose to do so. We have the freedom to make that choice. Except when it comes to the "activist" CBC, as it's funded by our tax dollars.

As such Mr. Harper, I respectfully request that you level the playing field. That you provide Canadians with a choice. That you end state funding for the CBC. Canadians deserve better Mr. Harper.

Regards;

Richard Evans