(FPJQ/IFEX) – Gathered at its annual general assembly on 18 November 2001, the members of the FPJQ unanimously demanded the withdrawal of Canada’s proposed anti-terrorist bill (C-36). Member journalists believe that if existing laws were applied with vigilance, they would allow the Canadian government to engage in an effective fight against terrorism. They believe Bill […]
(FPJQ/IFEX) – Gathered at its annual general assembly on 18 November 2001, the members of the FPJQ unanimously demanded the withdrawal of Canada’s proposed anti-terrorist bill (C-36).
Member journalists believe that if existing laws were applied with vigilance, they would allow the Canadian government to engage in an effective fight against terrorism. They believe Bill C-36 opens the door to a possible abuse of power and places considerable restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information. Furthermore, through its vague definitions and excessive penalties, the proposed law could considerably limit press freedom.
This resolution was adopted during the FPJQ’s annual convention, held from 16 to 18 November in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. 450 journalists attended the weekend convention and participated in a series of workshops and debates on a variety of issues, including Canada’s proposed anti-terrorism bill, the challenges facing journalists covering the war in Afghanistan, media convergence, investigative journalism, and investigating terrorism on the Internet. Kim Bolan, a “Vancouver Sun” investigative journalist and former board member of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), participated in the workshops, as did a number of Quebec journalists who have recently returned from covering events in Central Asia and the Middle East.
The media conglomerate Quebecor Médias has announced the closing of two regional newspapers in the Lower St-Lawrence region of Quebec. The “Touladi de Cabano” has been in operation for more than twenty years and the “Courrier de Trois-Pistoles” for more than forty years. Quebecor plans to maintain jobs in the publicity departments of these two papers in order to serve its other interests. The FPJQ has adopted a resolution asking Quebecor to also preserve jobs for two journalists in the region, and thus, to show an equal regard for the journalistic side of its operation.
The closing of these newspapers illustrates the dangers of media convergence in the hands of a limited number of media giants. In this respect, the FPJQ deplores the lack of courage demonstrated by the Parliamentary Commission on Culture (Commission parlementaire de la culture) in the report it recently released on media convergence. At the request of the FPJQ, the Quebec government agreed to hold a parliamentary commission on media convergence. The FPJQ is not satisfied with the resulting recommendations, which in most cases add up to nothing more than a wish list addressed to the industry. The FPJQ will submit new proposals to the government over the next few weeks.
Given this context, it is noteworthy that during its annual awards ceremony honouring journalistic work, the FPJQ awarded one of its highest honours to a young journalist, Martin Bourassa, from the “Courrier de Ste-Hyacinthe”. This regional independent weekly newspaper has been in operation for 150 years.
The renowned journalist and television host Anne-Marie Dussault was elected president of the FPJQ during the weekend convention. Other members of the executive include Vice-President Richard Bousquet (“Le Journal de Montréal”), and Treasurer Pierre Sormany (Radio-Canada). Other board members include Isabelle Grégoire, Jean-François Parent, Patrick White, Martin Francoeur, Catherine Crépeau, René Cochaux, Serge Roux, Jane McElhone, Mathieu Perreault and Geneviève Fortin.
To conclude, the FPJQ wishes to pay tribute to the many journalists striving to cover the war in Afghanistan in an objective and informed manner. It wishes to pay special tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives.
