The federal government must “put on its pants” to “bring back” the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) following its decision blaming Radio-Canada for the on-air mention of the title of the book white niggers of america by Pierre Vallières, said Minister of Culture and Communications Nathalie Roy on Wednesday.
Ms. Roy explained that she wrote, on Tuesday, a letter on this subject sent to her federal counterpart Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
“The CRTC is a federal creation so I think it’s up to the responsible minister, it’s up to the federal government, to put on its pants and bring the CRTC back into line,” she said before going to a cabinet meeting.
Ms. Roy explained that the CRTC’s decision concerning the mention of the “n-word” in 2020 during the broadcast 15-18broadcast in Montreal, sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of the press.
“This decision is an insult, it’s censorship,” she said. This decision was made without taking into account the source of the remarks, it is a public affairs program. »
Ms. Roy did not allow herself to be put off by Mr. Rodriguez’s argument, which so far has been content to insist on the importance of preserving the independence of the CRTC and Radio-Canada.
“Institutions are created and modified by laws,” she said. I invite him to examine his conscience with regard to the CRTC, it is very serious what has been done. »
Failing to intervene, the federal government will expose journalists to further reprimands of this type, denounced Ms. Roy.
“The CRTC, unelected people, will tell you what you have the right to say or not to say on the air, it’s totally ridiculous,” she explained to the representatives of the parliamentary press with whom she was talking.
More details will follow.