(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 January 2002 joint FPJQ and Canadian Association of Journalists open letter to all members of Parliament and senators in Ottawa: January 22, 2002 Dear parliamentarian: Over the past six weeks, Canadians have witnessed a disturbing pattern of censorship and repression of dissenting views on the part of Canada’s […]
(FPJQ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 January 2002 joint FPJQ and Canadian Association of Journalists open letter to all members of Parliament and senators in Ottawa:
January 22, 2002
Dear parliamentarian:
Over the past six weeks, Canadians have witnessed a disturbing pattern of censorship and repression of dissenting views on the part of Canada’s largest newspaper proprietor. We believe this situation represents a threat to Canada’s democratic traditions and warrants a full parliamentary inquiry.
Our concern is not only that CanWest Global Communications Corp., which is now the dominant media owner in many Canadian cities, has begun dictating the editorial-page policy of its major metropolitan dailies, ending a longstanding tradition of editorial autonomy at those newspapers and narrowing the range of viewpoints available to Canadians.
We are also alarmed over repeated instances of censorship in CanWest-owned newspapers across the country, with columns expressing viewpoints that differ from those of CanWest’s owners censored, and respected journalists whose opinions did not match those of CanWest let go. We are troubled, too, that CanWest has threatened to dismiss journalists who have spoken up to protest these abuses.
It is a situation that has attracted extensive national and international media attention, as the enclosed package of clippings can attest. With 1,500 members each, the Canadian Association of Journalists and the Quebec Professional Federation of Journalists are the largest professional bodies representing journalists in this country. We support the efforts of journalists across Canada who have spoken out against CanWest’s abuses and who are now at risk of losing their livelihoods for having done so.
With concentration of media ownership in Canada now at an unprecedented level, safeguards are needed to ensure diversity of opinion in Canada’s news media. The time has come for a full parliamentary inquiry into this dangerous situation
Yours sincerely,
Rob Cribb
President
Canadian Association of Journalists
Anne-Marie Dussault
President
Quebec Professional Federation of Journalists
