The latest embarrassment surrounds a faked Citizenship Ceremony created in Sun TV’s Toronto studios last October, because for some mysterious reason, covering the 13 already-scheduled swearing in ceremonies around the city for new Canadians was not good enough.

It didn’t start out as a faked event ….but became one when not enough “real” new Canadians could be found to take part.  So six federal bureaucrats stood in, along with three legitimate newcomers, taking part in the Sun studio ceremony and faked taking the Oath of Citizenship.

Incredible!

To be fair, at one point the network was going to cancel the ruse, but then decided to go ahead after the federal officials said six stand-ins had been found to take part and make it look real.

“Let’s do it. We can fake the Oath,” wrote a still unnamed buy apparent Sun media official in a sunmedia.ca  e-mail later obtained by The Canadian Press.

Lately, the whole disgraceful event has been the subject of political charges and accusations, pitting the Opposition against Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and embarrassed federal officials.

But frankly, MY main concern is with SUN MEDIA.

I find it outrageous that the newtwork went along with the ruse and aired the faked footage.

How could ANY news organization do that????

What it shows me is a complete disrespect for journalistic ethics, their own news product and, most of all, their viewers!

And according to the Toronto Star, this was not the first time Canada’s newest news network has been caught leaving truth and ethics out of its reports.  In November, a photo of Sun employees posing with Toronto’s mayor was PHOTOSHOPPED to take out an anchore who no longer worked for the network and ADD in a new Sun TV host.

Geez!

And making it all worse, although the politicians are all flailing about over the government’s role in the latest faked news item, Sun officials have had very little to say about their disgraceful action.

Or perhaps they don’t even think it’s newsworthy.

Just the new norm we can expect from Sun TV … unless some other media blows their cover?

Harv Oberfeld

I’ve been thinking… always a dangerous and sometimes a quite cheeky intellectual exercise … and I’ve come up with a few new program suggestions for CBC’s next television season … featuring a “Revised”  Program Standards Policy to fit with its new reality.

First, Hockey Night in Canada can now have a new Sports Reporter, Jennifer Mather, ”imbedded” to  cover the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mather, as former BCTV fans can testify, is a fine reporter.  But more than that old-fashioned journalistic qualification, she’s also married to Brian Burke, Leafs’ General Manager, reflecting the new apparently acceptable standard at CBC for reporters.

Vancouver Canucks fans (not to mention Montreal Canadiens supporters) may have some doubts about the validity of her stories, especially if she just happens to honestly find something to  rave about ….., for example, if the Leafs string together two consecutive wins …. but CBC management are confident that likely won’t happen, so it should not pose any problems.

And Jennifer could promise that, if after another losing game, hubby Brian puts his fist through a wall at HOME, she will NOT take advantage of her unusual access to scoop other media with the story.  BUT if he puts his fist through a wall at the OFFICE, where other reporters can also see the results, she WILL report it … complete with ALL his &%*$ quotes.

And in light of the CBC Pacific Region managers’ recent decision that legislative reporter Stephen Smart can continue to cover BC politics and the legislature, even though his wife is the premier’s deputy press secretary, there can now be other changes in CBC news as well.

The National can now feature a new At Issue panel member: Laureen Harper.

Ms. Harper has extensive experience in both national and international travel and has skillfully written many memos to her kids’ school, meal menus and messages on Christmas cards … none of which have ever had a partisan bias.

Ms. Harper will bring a new perspective to the At Issue panel: being close enough to the corridors of power walked daily by her spouse Stephen, but she has assured CBC managers she will never take advantage of that unique situation by having the Prime Minister or any of his staff suggest stories, write scripts or insert OR delete quotes…. EVER.  Except, of course,  maybe in the 38 days immediately preceding an election … an occasional exception that should be no problem for CBC management, especially in the Alberta and the Pacific Regions.

And then, there’s the popular  CBC show Quirks and Quarks, currently looking for a new host.

Apparently, TWO well-known British Columbians have the inside edge as co-hosts: Adrian Dix and John Cummins.

With their extensive knowledge of politics, CBC management might find them perfect candidates to explore the quirks and quarks of BC and Canada’s political “sciences”  …exploring unproven and untested theories for Canada’s future,  in the light of current and historical failed experiments.

Apparently, the possibility of previous political connections are not a problem.   Although neither currently have close family members working for the government (or National Research Council),  CBC management can assure them that will not be a problem if any or all of their relatives  win major lucrative jobs or contracts.

And should the political leaders actually gain power and become Premier or Opposition leader … again, no problem under CBC’s new journalistic standards.

Since it’s apparently hard to survive in Victoria on just one salary, their spouses could simply replace them as Quirks and Quarks hosts …. unless, of course, they are scooped up by CBC News division to cover their hubbies at the legislature.

In either case, it will no longer be a problem.

What an amazing season the CBC can now have …. unencumbered by pesky rulings of its own ombudsman or any public concerns about perceived fairness and independent thinking.

Of course, I personally find this all particularly amusing: because when The Webster Awards dumped me as an unpaid, voluntary judge after I did it for two years following retirement  ( my own tribute to Jack, who helped me get my great job at BCTV), they told me the reason was this blog (on which there are NO ads, NO revenues).    I was told it was as if I was still “working” in the media. Huh?

Apparently THAT was a conflict.  Certainly NOT because I had written articles critical of declining standards and the quality of journalism in BC media!

I guess journalistic standards in BC have indeed now changed!

And I wonder what Jack would say about the new realities.

Harv Oberfeld

P.S.  And a reminder, if you want First Alert notifications of every new blog on here, follow me on Twitter @harveyoberfeld.  Again, FREE, no ads, no costs …not even if I ever get a lucrative government contract!

The integrity of CBC Television requires that ONE of those alternatives take place.. PRONTO!

What’s the problem?

Smart, who has covered the legislature for CBC since 2010, and Scott, appointed in 2011 as Clark’s deputy press secretary, are married …TO EACH OTHER.

There is NO WAY, in my opinion, that Smart can continue to cover the Liberal government and Clark while his wife works for it and her. Period. Simple. END OF STORY!

Or maybe not.

Certainly, the CBC’s own ombudsman, Kirk Lapointe … a veteran experienced former journalist and media manager … thinks there is a conflict here.

“There is a violation of CBC Journalist Standards and Policy,” the CBC ombudsman wrote in his review, after a private citizen complained about the apparent conflict of interest.

“Just because there is no impropriety does not mean there is no conflict,” Lapointe wrote. “Whether a real or perceived conflict of interest, no amount of managing it can do more than mitigating the impact of an impartial fulfilment of duties.”

He’s right.

Yet, incredibly, the real culprit in this situation …CBC regional management … decided to let Smart continue to cover the legislature.

“We feel the ombudsman’s ruling found no issues wuth Stephen’s reporting,” said Johnny Michel, managing director for CBC’s Pacific Region. “Without a shred of evidence that Stephen is offside in his reporting, we feel this is now just a personal matter and a corporate matter.”

Not!!!

There’s a lot more to journalism than just what actually appears in stories: what about things any reporter may know but decides NOT to report for various reasons?  What about possible public perceptions …. justified or not … of easier questioning of the premier or government ministers  or tougher questioning of opponents? What about the reporter himself becoming more the center of attention than the story being presented, as viewers, knowing of the conflict ruling, now will always  look for bias?

Problems like these do not relate solely to Stephen Smart: any reporter can face tougher scrutiny once even a POTENTIAL  for bias surfaces. And in covering politics, the sensitivity becomes even greater …to the point of viewer distraction.

The fact that this even has to be debated…. the IDEA that a political legislative reporter’s wife can work personally and directly for the premier and this could be considered acceptable … I believe speaks to the sad state of ethics at CBC Vancouver region; and the fact so many others in the business defend such ludicrous reality exposes the sad standard of journalism in BC today.

Are they so out of touch with real Canadians in Fortress CBC they think they can withstand their own ombudsman’s findings,  the public’s likely suspicions from now on and the decline in credibility among viewers for their news product?

How can Smart possibly cover the provincial election campaign without the question of his impartiality coming up?  And the closer that election comes …the more questions I suspect will be raised about his stories, his spin, his conclusions … handicapping CBC’s coverage.

This will NOT go away … as things now stand,  the situation will get worse: for Smart; for Scott; and for the CBC. (Clark’s credibility with many is already in the bin.)

Smart is a good reporter and Scott (by the way, they both worked at CKNW before) has never, as far as I can determine, ever been guilty of manipulating her hubby’s stories.

But that is not the point.

Let’s say Smart uncovers a great POSITIVE story about government plans to substantially increase funding in health care or housing or education: I submit just about every viewer would see that story as just a government plant, unworthy of deserving any journalistic credit or credibility.

And how could viewers ever be totally comfortable in the belief that Smart is telling us EVERYTHING he knows about skeletons in the government or Clark’s office? Simply not possible.

The regional CBC management response is an insult to journalistic integrity in general, Lapointe in particular, and to all CBC viewers and voters, who have the right to EXPECT there be NO CONNECTIONS OF ANY KIND between those who cover the legislature and those who have politically sensitive jobs working for the government and/or the premier.

Scott has to move from the premier’s staff to another ministry job less political and less directly related to the media.

Or Smart has to move to another beat… unrelated to covering provincial politics… so his stories, and not the reporter, once more become the focus of viewers’ attention.

Harv Oberfeld

It all started with covering Burnaby City Council meetings for The Vancouver Sun … clearly a gateway event …that eventually led me to cover Vancouver City Hall, the GVRD, the Legislature in Victoria, Parliament in Ottawa (see the progression?)  … and now lately, I’m even hooked on watching U.S. Presidential politics.

And trust me … stay away, unless you are prepared to be let down.  U.S. Presidential Primary Debates may attract viewers looking for an ultimate high … but what you get is an initial rush, followed by a high or two as lines are delivered,  but ultimately ending with a crash at the end of it all, leaving you empty, unfulfilled and exhausted … time after time.

Why?

Because the “reporters” asking the questions, probing the candidates have forgotten to be real journalists.

They all seem to be sticking to pre-scripted questions on pre-determined topics in pre-allocated segments ..all in an orchestrated, precisely timed order … which forces the whole debate into a pre-measured straight jacket formula that almost totally removes the essential questioning tool of cross-examination.

So we get assigned discussion segments on The Economy, Social Issues and Foreign Relations.

And admittedly, I do get my expected high from some of the questions and the responses from the candidates, or lack of responses, and parrying that follows between the aspiring Presidential candidates, and sometimes, the reporters on the panel.

But then comes the crash.

Why?

Because the journalists are so tied to their scripts, they don’t  think about previous answers tossed out by the contenders as they totally contradict themsleves 20 minutes later in another segment.

For example, in Monday’s debate on Fox News the candidates, in the section on The Economy,  were asked what level of personal income taxes they thought should be applied, even for the highest earners … and, of course, they responded calling for lower personal taxes …right down to zero in the case of Ron Paul. An easy lob to experienced journalists:  what would lowering taxes on EVERYONE do to the US deficit, debt, economy???? And down to zero??  Where would Paul make up for the HUGE loss of revenues?  Nothing.  Nada. Rien.

And of course, they all called for lower corporate taxes as well.   But even that didn’t lead to a single question about the impact this shallow rhetoric would have on the US government operations, its deficit and debt.  The journalism was as shallow as the responses.

And it got even worse.

In a later segment on Foreign Affairs, all of the candidates, except Paul, called for a STRONG US defence policy and did quite a lot of saber-rattling in the direction of Iran.  And even seemingly-isolationist Paul called for a strong US miliitary to DEFEND the country.

The OBVIOUS question ..how would they pay for all that …in light of their earlier pledge to lower or compeltely eliminate personal taxes, lowewr corproate taxes etc etc.?????

But apparently, when these illustrous journalists move on to a new segment …they MUST STICK to their pre-determined questions.

And they totally forget everything said by the candidates only minutes earlier … so there are no “wait a minute” moments, no questioning of how they intend to pay for a stronger military, a new war on Iran … while lowering taxes even more.

What would they cut … even eliminating two or three departments (likely impossible-to-keep rhetoric) and cutting foreign aid wouldn’t be enough to do all they kept promising to keep America “strong” without MAJOR service eliminations in huge already-committed social programs.  Which would they cut or eliminate? And what would happen to those people who can’t find jobs and depend on those programs.  Nothing. Nada Rien.

It’s actually quite a surprise to see such seasoned senior reporters failing to connect the dots between what a politician says now and what he said 20 minutes earlier.  And it was not just done in the latest debate on Fox.

Quite shameful.

But now that you’re on to it, if you too are a political junky like me, I urge you NOT to watch for it next time. Take it from me: that will just make your crash when it’s over even worse. And vow never to do it again.

Until the next one.

Harv Oberfeld

Or will it?

For those who missed it, Shaw Media has applied to the CRTC for “a regional, Global BC-driven all-news speciality channel” to begin broadcasting next summer.

The company says the new network will provide viewers throughout the province with “top local, national and international headlines” 24 hours a day and “more live event coverage and more in-depth, original local reporting than any other in the market”.

I like it … if it’s true.

Keeping to those promising words could give  viewers (not just those of us who are news junkies) all kinds of new windows of coverage on events, issues and politics unfolding at municipalities, regions and the provincial level.

But that will take a lot more resources than Global has at its disposal right now … including more seasoned journalists, adept at covering more than shootings, fires, traffic accidents, weather events and charity walks, runs and swims; serious political reporters who ENJOY getting out from behind a desk to go ask tough questions of politicians, and investigative experts, given the resources and time to research and shoot compelling stories and exposees.

That would be just wonderful … and could even have a multiplier effect with other BC news stations and networks as well …benefiting us all. As I reported on the blog in November CTV also expanded its news shows in BC … another good step in the right direction.

Of course, the new network could be a bust.

Just the same stories we now get,  run over and over again …twenty times a day instead of four or five or six.

Or hours and hours of talking heads … more people sitting behind desks, discussing the news instead of showing it to us.  That’s what we got with the “new” Sun News network …the last place I go to find out what’s happening with serious breaking news. About all I find there are talking heads, and  repeat broadcasts of talking head shows I’d swear I had seen when clicking hours earlier in the day. Almost all of it, of course, what I would describe as just right wing propaganda.  Yech!

Of course, there will be lots of cynics who will worry the “new” BC news network will be nothing more than a provincial Liberal government or federal Tory government mouthpiece … offering up pap and propaganda in return for lots of government advertising revenues, which after all is the mainstay of private stations and networks.

And how will the dedication of the huge resources needed for a substantive 24-hour news channel affect the Newshour and other news shows on Global?

Will the Newshour be scooped by its own new rival?  Will the competition enjoy a new “heads up” service, advising them at 3 p.m what the Newshour will be featuring at 6 p.m?   Or will the Newshour withold legitimate news stories from its own 24-hour network, making it “all the news …  the second time over”.    And what about Newshour sports? Will much of the 6 p.m. (and Early and Noon and Final) be original sports coverage and different? Or just cuts and/or rehashes from sports stories running on the 24-hour network?

Lots of questions.  Lots of fears. But lots of opportunities.

And that’s sure better than the past 10 years … of watching Global doing more with less … and suffering as a result.

Harv Oberfeld

And also because it’s not something the pro-HST media pundits and propagandists would want to tell you about: so I will.

In an article in The Vancouver Province about weak Christmas retail sales Dec. 28, experienced Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter was commenting on the 40 per cent drop in Searts Canada’s share value in 2011.

Sears is in a lot of trouble in the US, because of the wretched economy …but Canada’s economy is relatively strong, our debt load is a fraction of the US, our consumer confidence is higher and our political situation is much more stable.

Yet all is not well in the retail sector here… especially as viewed from through the microcosm of Sears Canada. Why?

“Canada has been very, very difficult, due to the harmonized sales tax,” said Balter.

That’s not me saying it; not Bill Vander Zalm saying it; not some NDP critic saying it.  No, it’s from an economist working for the well-known and trusted international financial analysis institution, Credit Suisse.

Is Sears alone in suffering under the HST?  Impossible!  Imagine what a little digging by the working media could find!

The HST indeed HAS had a dampening effect, to put it mildly, on major spending by British Columbians.

Many, many restaurateurs, catering to middle class diners …not the high end specialty dining rooms frequented by corporate executives, political leaders and their highly-placed media pundit friends  … have been telling us that for years.  Many have closed or are struggling because adding HST onto bills, on top of PST,  on top of tips,  on top of even higher parking fees anywhere nearby have made going out for meals in many BC urban areas just too expensive to do as often as people used to enjoy doing.

Now retail has also been shown to be suffering …especially when it comes to gift-giving, larger purchases, major appliances and furnishings.

Of course, HST apologists will point out that some of these items will still have the GST added onto the PST when the HST is finally removed, so what’s the difference?. What they fail to take into account is that the HST being applied to so many goods and services that did not have the GST applied previously, has hurt so much that purchases of all goods and services have clearly been affected.

The HST has clearly sucked too much money from the economy and put it instead into the pocket of the provincial government.  And created a negative attitude among consumers that is now being widely felt.

And it is going to get worse!!!

Christy Clark’s inability or unwillingness to get rid of the HST in the next few months will continue to hurt everyone …except the provincial coffers… for another yewar or MORE!!!

In fact, the economic damage will grow even greater: because as the eventual end date is known and approaches, people will hold back on spending even more than threy do now.

Why buy a house or do a major renovation on a kitchen or entire house when waiting could save THOUSANDS in taxes?

Many construction, renovation and service industries are well aware of this: the damage to BC business, especially in the last six months of the hated tax,  will be  substantial…. as people wait it out.

But in Victoria, no one seems to be listening.  In fact, they say even the anticipated March 2013 end date may not be met.

I see it as deliberate milking of the consumers … or just plain incompetency by the government and its bureaucrats.

The HST MUST be ended BEFORE the next Fall/Christmas shopping season.

And the governhment MUST lift the tax from the construction and service industries MUCH FASTER than that.

Or face the economic ruin to many more businesses and resulting taxpayer rage that will result if they do NOT expedite the Horrible Sales Tax’s demise.

Harv Oberfeld

Barely a month after the votes were counted and Vision won its new term at the helm of City Hall is now looking at all kinds of tax and service costs increases not revealed during the campaign.

The word just in from city officials (who conveniently weren’t ready with their figures BEFORE the election …and as far as I can tell, didn’t even warn us with estimates of possible or pending annual operating costs increases)   is that Vancouver taxpayers could face a $52 MILLION SHORTFALL for the 2012 Budget. Of course, there will be “consultations” with the voters …stop laughing… and I’m sure they’ll trim the increase to ONLY $20 MILLION or $30 MILLION, saying what a wonderful job they’ve done. Now, pay up.

But the taxpayers will pay through the nose …new taxes and fees never discussed during the campaign. Just like we faced after Gordon Campbell won his provincial re-election.   (Was the NPA asleep or was this really hidden…questions that should be asked if the Vancouver media paid more than just minor lip service to covering the various City Halls.)

And it gets even worse.

A staff report to go before Vancouver Council Tuesday will recommend raising garbage collection fees by 5.7 per cent.  And recycling fees will rise too.

PLUS… how about higher water and sewer fees … recommended to go up another 10 per cent.

Amazing how city officials at Vancouver’s Kremlin weren’t able to come with any of this BEFORE the vote, but it’s all flowing like the Volga now …carrying away taxpayers’ dollars at an ever-increasing rate.

And ironically, this will all make Vancouver EVEN LESS AFFORDABLE for Vision’s primary constituents.  Struggling young first-time home or condo owners will pay more. As will many seniors living on pensions, trying to stay in their homes. And so will tenants: do they think landlords won’t pass all the increases on?

In fact, the city …. with I’m sure no doubt more parking, and various other fee increases etc still to be announced  … will continue to be become an even greater reserve for higher income, foreign investors and yuppy types, pushing more and more young people and working middle and poorer class  employees out of Vancouver.

Funny more voters didn’t see this coming …and stayed at home, rather than vote.

Gordon Campbell would be proud of them …and no doubt admire Vision’s methodology.

Harv Oberfeld

Their message … that the rich must STOP getting richer at the expense of the rest of us … must not die, or be forgotten, or cease to be advocated. promoted and brought to success in our society.

Readers of this blog will know how I  condemned what I saw as the illegitimate seizure of the Occupy site by anarchists, homeless activists and partiers, who ruined the original message and destroyed much of the public support for the movement.

That was unfortunate, but now that the tenters have been moved away, that does NOT mean the original objectives should be forgotten or abandoned.

The Occupy Vancouver movement and protests and demands for fairness and better sharing of the wealth in our society should be continued. But while keeping it real at the same time.

The rich have been getting richer for some time…MANY studies have proved that …  but big business,corporate lobbyists, their conglomerate-based media mouthpieces and the GOVERNMENTS they have financed will only deal the issue when events force them to do so.

The worst thing that can happen to the struggle for fairness and justice is for the real Occupy movement to just go away.

So here’s my prescription how they could succeed:

Revive the protest outside the Vancouver Art Gallery … which IS front and center …in the city, where the action will draw the most attention.  BUT do it only one day a week …. say every Friday.   That’s every Friday, all year round … with featured speakers at Noon, keeping up the message … every Friday, every week.

The single Day of Action will allow thousands of people … underpaid workers, unemployed workers, involuntary part-time workers, struggling single or coupled parents, union supporters, seniors, overpaying renters, aspiring homeowners, and thousands of others who understand and support the true objectives … to show up for an hour or two or for the day and take part, without giving up their entire lives and bedding down in the bushes.

Community leaders, union leaders, even on-side politicians, writers, actors and who knows, even bloggers, could take part in that kind of sustained protest and express their support for the movement.

A sustained, orderly protest…every week … cannot fail to be noticed.  And I submit … it will grow until it’s message cannot be ignored.

And by packing up and leaving at the end of the day….the protests will not be corrupted by the tenters, druggies, anarchists who would want to divert the message and the attention back to themselves.

That’s my Rx:  take it weekly until justice is achieved and you’ll no doubt start feeling … and living …  better.

Harv Oberfeld

But I couldn’t resist … CTV Vancouver began a new morning show today, to compete with Global’s longstanding Morning News … so I felt I had to give CTV’s new venture a look.

Pretty good!

I flipped back and forth between both shows from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and of course, I felt most familiar with the Global team, that includes three really nice people I always enjoyed working beside before I retired: Sophie Louie, Steve Darling and Mark Madryga.  The show “felt” like an old comfortable shoe.

And maybe that will be a problem, it did appear ”old”…or at least older, next to the new, flashy addition to the dial.

And it didn’t help that CTV featured an interview with two BC Lions athletes (that youthful thing again) and Global had a guest who offered up samples and commentary on a new French champagne. Clearly different demographic target audiences being sought here. 

So I found the CTV morning show had much more “spark” , an airy bright feeling and an incomparable spirit of youthfulness and higher tech, including in its traffic graphics and use of  live video too.

What I didn’t like about the CTV offering was the self-serving promotional pap that went on and on about new anchor Reid, her background, a live “hit” with her parents who …believe it or not…described the new show as  ”great” and “wonderful”.  Wow!!  I hate CTV’s penchant for stuffing too much self-promo pap down the throats of their viewers  (I still shudder at what they did to their News shows during the Junos).  Click! I was  gone .. back to Global.

But before I left, I was impressed with the CTV lede 8 a.m. story … about the latest poll results for Vancouver’s civic election … a much better morning breakfast, wakeup coffee choice than Global’s lede about today’s court case about a terminally ill woman’s fight for the right to die.  A story better mentioned later in the hour, AFTER I’ve at least had my cup of coffee (which CTV did).

And I couldn’t help notice how the CTV set seemed right “there” , with it’s live city background, while Global was clearly taking place in a windowless t.v. studio.

Time will tell who will win the ratings war … and take the advertising revenue prize.

But it is good, at a time when so many tv stations are offering less and less local content to viewers, that  CTV is giving a new morning show a shot.

We should all wish them luck.

Harv Oberfeld

Christy Clark said she was not Gordon Campbell and her way of governing would be different from that of the disgraced ex-premier.  Clearly she was joking…or just taking the voters, as Campbell seemed to, for fools!

In fact, things are not getting better: they’re getting worse.

Clark’s Liberal government handed out $30 million in public money, PLUS legal fees, to Boss Power in a settlement,  to keep a potentially embarrassing matter of government and perhaps ministerial wrongdoing out of the courts.

The BC Rail legal fees settlement,  to keep a potentially embarrassing matter of government and perhaps ministerial wrongdoing out of the courts cost us $6 million.

So it can be argued that the cost of Liberal cover-ups of shenanigans and disgraceful activities under Clark is now costing us FIVE TIMES more, not less than under Campbell.

And yet, MOST of the MSM (apart from The Vancouver Sun and Vaughn Palmer)  in BC appear content to cover press release announcements of the government, rather than scream like hell and demand answers.  Ho hum!

The NDP has been trying in the House to ferret out answers and information and details of what happened.

How has Clark’s government responded?

With obfuscation, interference, manoeuvring, incomplete answers, refusals to answer and basically ignoring and disrespecting the public’s basic right to know what has been going on.

Disgraceful.

Clark has to answer for that.

If only the media would wake up and demand it!

Harv Oberfeld