Independent journalism? Government rules for social media? Banning comment from the right side of the political spectrum, and by extension interfering in the next election; that's going to work

An editorial by Alan Forseth -- Kamloops

Last Falls Federal Economic Update spoke to ... Support for Canadian Journalism 

... a strong and independent news media is crucial to a well-functioning democracy. It empowers citizens by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions on important issues, and also serves to hold powerful institutions—including governments—to account by bringing to light information that might not otherwise be made available to the public.

In short, strong and independent journalism serves the public good—for Canada, and for Canadians. Canadians have a right to a wide range of independent news sources that they can trust, and government has a responsibility to ensure that Canadians have access to these kinds of news sources.

What did Andrew Coyne have to say about that in the National Post on November 23^rdof last year (2018)?

 “This week all that effort paid off: a $600-million aid package, tucked in the middle of Wednesday’s economic statement. There’d be tax credits for “qualifying” news organizations, tax credits for subscribers to “eligible” digital news media, plus charitable tax status for “qualified” non-profit news organizations, i.e. tax credits for their sponsors.” 

Meantime according to a news story in iPOLITICS just a few weeks back:
The Liberal government announced last fall that it would provide almost $600 million over five years in incentives to Canada’s ailing news media. The measures would allow some qualified outlets to receive a 25 per cent refundable tax credit on newsroom salaries and issue a 15 per cent tax credit to digital subscribers. They would also create access to charitable tax incentives for not-for-profit journalism.

Media outlets must provide general news coverage and receive certification from an independent expert panel if they hope to access new federal tax incentives, the 2019 budget reveals.

To qualify for any of the measures, organizations must be deemed a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization (QCJO) by an independent panel of experts, that the government is proposing be created ... 

Now I don’t know about you, however it makes me nervous when the ‘government’ gets to decide which news media is ‘ailing’ ... what kind of potential interference may be imposed on the so-called ‘independent expert panel’ ... and MOST IMPORTANTLY, who decides what media organizations are deemed to be a ‘qualified Canadian Journalism Organization?’ 

Many people, myself included, are wondering how all of this is going to work .... especially in light of recent new developments. Developments in which meddling by government in the democratic right to free speech MAY BE interfered with.

According the CBC, just days ago: 

In an attempt to curb interference, the Canadian government has said it will set up an internal team to sound the alarm if it sees evidence of meddling. 

That sort of sounds a bit like, ‘We’re here from the government, and we’re here to help’.  The CBC News story goes on: 

The new "critical election incident public protocol" group is made up of five bureaucrats who will alert the public if they become aware of interference during the campaign period, also known as the writ period. 

Let me just interject here and remind all of you who are reading this .... haven’t we just had, and continue to have, ongoing questions of political interference from bureaucrats in the PMO’s office and the Privy Council?  Do the names Gerald Butts and Michael Wernick ring any bells? 

Again, quoting from the federal governments Fall Economic Update; “... the Prime Minister ... committed to take action to support a strong and independent news sector in the digital age ... the Government would explore new models to provide financial support for journalism in Canada".

Here’s the kicker to all of that however ... it is the government that is going to determine the principles of who, how, and what stipulations will be involved to support the news sector ... the main one being:

... it will be at arms-length and independent of the Government. To this end, an independent panel of journalists will be established to define and promote core journalism standards, define professional journalism, and determine eligibility.

Doesn’t that sound a bit to you like setting the fox to guard the henhouse?  Isn’t that a bit of a conflict of interest?  Doesn’t that smack of at least potential political interference?

Here’s what American Culture Explained says the idiom about letting the fox guard the henhouse ... is used to point out to somebody that their actions invite disaster if you put a person in a position where they can exploit the situation for their own benefit, then you let the fox guard the henhouse ...not only can that person exploit the situation ... the fox who can’t help himself looking at all those yummy chickens.

On February 19^th Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould called on a Commons committee to look at the possibility of the Canadian government imposing new rules on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter in the lead-up to the next federal election.

"I would encourage this committee to do a study of the role of social media in democracy, if that is something that you think is interesting," she said. "To hold the social media companies to account.”

The trouble is, the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has shown an ongoing practice of interference across the board in all aspects of Canadians, their institutions, and social meddling.

Even the threat alone has seen Facebook ban the thoughts and comments of several users for supporting white nationalism, including Faith Goldy, a former Toronto mayoral candidate, and former reporter for Rebel Media  (an organization that itself has fought to have access to report on events and is loathed by those on the left). 

Now I, and others, may not like what Faith Goldy has to say ... some even would dismiss her right to speak her mind, however that is NOT in accordance with the right to freedom of expression.  According to the Canadian Civil

Liberties Association:

 The right to express yourself and form your own opinions is an essential feature of a democracy.  Freedom of expression is a core part of the right to dissent and a basic feature of personal development.  It is only through exposure to different ideas and opinions that each person can make their own informed choices about their core beliefs.

In Canada, section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication”.

When government actors are allowed to decide which opinions can be expressed and which cannot, an open, vibrant and diverse society quickly breaks down.

Freedom of expression is the right to speak, but also the right to hear. Informed political debate requires that this right be strongly protected, and it is only through free expression that individuals can take action to ensure that our governing institutions are held accountable.

Interference by the federal Liberal government, into which media organizations will get cash infusions of taxpayer’s money ... deciding who will make those decisions ... interfering in the right to freedom of speech ... dictating and or suggesting rules social media platforms should follow -- all of those things concern me, and they should concern you as well.

What concerns do you have ... or are you content to allow government interference into the area of freedom of speech.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.  Please be sure to have your say in the Comment Section below.