Amongst the many Access to Information (ATI) enquiries we make each year was this tidbit relating to the CBC. Our National Research Director, Derek Fildebrandt got to thinking about the leadership of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, the group that advocates for more funding for the CBC. “What if these people are actually on the CBC’s payroll?” thought Derek.What do you think of that? More and more everyday CBC is proving unworthy of taxpayers money. I say how about we stop subsidizing the State Broadcaster. That way they can spend their money anyway they want just not with my money.
If it were true, it would go a long way to explaining their passion for public broadcasting. And it would be very, very funny.
We finally got our answer, after a long wait. As it turns out, the situation is actually pretty funny. ATI documents show that three members of the ‘Friends’ Steering Committee actually were on the CBC payroll.
Aritha van Herk was paid to write poems and was paid $6,322. David Tars was paid to be a “reader” and was paid $277, while Stephen Kimber was paid $675 as a “freelance[r].”
These are quite small sums of money – especially in the latter two cases – however this is by no means the whole picture. Some of the individuals refused to disclose their financial arrangements with the CBC, resulting in about 85 pages of the ATI documents being blanked out.
Those refusing to disclose their financial dealings with the CBC include the ‘Friends’ spokesperson Ian Morrison, Chairperson Noreen Golfman and members Anna-Marie Dekker, Maggie Siggins and R.H. Thomson. Somewhere in the 85 blanked out pages, at least one of these names is sure to be found.
It sort of makes you think – if your goal is to demonstrate public support for the CBC, wouldn’t you put members of the public on your board, rather than CBC contractors?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Friends of CBC on the CBC Payroll
Did you know that three members of Friends of CBC are on the CBC payroll? Yup! That's what Canadian Taxpayers Federation found out through Access to Information.
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When you have to pay someone to be your friend, isn't that kinda like that 'oldest profession' thingy?
ReplyDeleteYou gotta point there!
Deleteanything that can be done to encourage defunding the CBC gigantic fraud on us taxpayers, is welcome - thank you
ReplyDeleteOh gawd. What a web they weave, eh.
ReplyDeleteYah, how about a tick box on my tax return,
giving me the option
I dont want to pay for porn stars from France on CBC online for Quebec. They can buy porn with their own money, not mine.
I don't care what CBC shows,porn,NASCAR,NHL,LMOTP as a substitute for a situation comedy,as long as they are self supporting.
ReplyDelete"Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is not affiliated with any broadcaster or political party." From Wikipedia.
Question of the day has to be;why is Minister Moore defending the CBC against SUN-TV?
Question of the day has to be;why is Minister Moore defending the CBC against SUN-TV?
DeleteThat's a very good question. I am extremely disappointed in Moore. He should be relegated to the back benches asap. We need to let the PM know and demand he lose his job as a Minister.
Minister Moore is only doing what his boss Harper tells him to.
ReplyDeletethen email the Boss and tell him what you think, everyone.
Deletepm@pm.gc.ca
Exactly,we should all email the PM and voice what we think. When you look at other places in the world,the people don't have that privilege. In a blessed country like ours we have that right and privilege to be able to contact our elected officials with our grievances so let's exercise it.
DeleteWell what do you know.
ReplyDeleteNot only are they distributing porn, but they have their own sponsorship program going as well.
At what point does someone in parliament call it out for what it is, corruption.