In the long list of agency heads who dared to disagree with the Harper government and paid the price, will Konrad von Finckenstein be next?
Is Stephen Harper set to move against the CRTC?
Insiders say the PM wants Konrad von Finckenstein out well before his term as chair ends. And vice-chair Michel Arpin is being ushered out the door.
link: Is Stephen Harper set to move against the CRTC? - The Globe and Mail
The pattern intensifies: Linda Keen challenged the government on nuclear safety and is gone; Munir Sheikh challenged the government on the census and is gone; Pat Stogran gave the government as hard time as veterans' ombudsman and will be gone in a few weeks; Marty Cheliak holds views contrary to those of the government as the RCMP lead on the gun registry and is mysteriously re-assigned; the list goes on (more here).
I surmised the CRTC was in trouble last December when Tony Clement moved to over-rule it and allow Globealive to launch a wireless telephone service in Canada, despite the commission's determination that Globealive does not meet Canadian ownership rules. What looked like a populist more to appease the rabble calling for cheaper mobile phones [Canadians complain about cell phone prices only slightly less than they complain about the weather] may have been, in fact, a trial balloon to see if the CRTC will kowtow to the government or uphold the legislation it is legally bound to enforce.
Lawrence Martin's report of the prime minister's meeting in New York is astounding.
Last year, as revealed by The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Stephen Harper lunched in New York with Roger Ailes, president of Fox News, and Rupert Murdoch, who owns it. Kory Teneycke, Mr. Harper’s former spokesman, was also present at the unannounced event.
Mr. Teneycke later became the point man for Quebecor’s Pierre Karl Péladeau in his effort to create a right-wing television network modelled along the lines of Fox News. The new network is a high priority for Mr. Harper, for whom controlling the message has always been – witness his government vetting program – of paramount importance.
link: Is Stephen Harper set to move against the CRTC? - The Globe and Mail
One thing that has kept Harper from the majority government he so desperately seeks is the constant questioning of his motives by publicly and privately held media in Canada. Even the National Post cannot be counted upon to be unquestionably non-questioning. Sun Media though, is pretty close to blindly loyal. If only that loyalty could be transferred to television. So why not sit down with the experts in right-wing media and your media guy and talk about how to bring the model north of the border? Then send your media guy to Péladeau and Sun Media with just a suggestion that he could help with any regulatory issues that might get in the way of launching a new TV channel.
Sun Media made its application for a broadcast licence and was rejected by the CRTC by reason of the current moratorium on any such licences [until Canada converts to digital broadcasting next year, there is a problem with available spectrum]. The CRTC suggested Sun Media could re-apply for a cable licence and try to convince cable operators to carry its signal [which would be charged back to consumers] but that is hardly good enough for Péladeau or Harper. With a broadcast licence, cable companies would be required to carry the signal,at no cost to Sun Media, and deliver it to every cable subscribing household in Canada. Simply put, it would give Harper's supporters a line into millions of Canadian homes to spread their conservative propaganda. Péladeau has vowed he will have the licence he wants and be on the air in 2011. And Stephen Harper has vowed there won't be another federal election until 2011.
Clearly, if von Finckenstein and/or the CRTC get in the way something will have to give, someone will have to yield and, at the moment, it's Stephen Harper who has the power advantage.
Maybe Martin is correct that the government is trying to induce von Finckenstein to leave with the promise of a prime appointment far outside Canada. A quiet resignation would present far better optics than a messy one such at the government got from Keen, Sheikh or Stogran.
Which will it be Konrad?
