The CBC is eating a healthy helping of crow over a muddled story that depicted re-elected Conservative MP Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, Alta.) as “callous and ignorant.”.Blacklock’s Reporter says records detailed snide questions from a CBC Calgary reporter who falsely accused the MP of spreading misinformation about COVID-19..“I agree we failed to live up to the high standards we set for ourselves on several fronts,” wrote Helen Henderson, senior director at CBC Calgary..“This piece fell short of what we deem acceptable. Let me reiterate that I regret we did not live up to our, and our audience’s, expectations of CBC News.”.The CBC posted a website story last November 25 headlined: “Lethbridge MP Under Fire For Spreading ‘Misinformation’ About Covid Deaths In Alberta.”.The article quoted social media users’ comments after MP Harder posted a November 17 Toronto Sun story on her Facebook page..The Sun item correctly stated a majority of COVID-19 deaths occurred among patients with pre-existing medical conditions, like dementia. Figures were supported by subsequent data from Statistics Canada and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, which put the average age of COVID-19 victims at 86..The CBC account read: “Harder’s sharing of an article on Facebook that says only 10 ‘otherwise healthy’ people have died of COVID-19 in Alberta has triggered angry responses from people who say she’s showing a lack of compassion and empathy for all who have died of the disease.”.The CBC quoted a Calgary doctor as stating MP Harder “has very little respect for human life.” Another person was quoted, “It seems as if our officials feel that it’s okay that so many people died simply because they have pre-existing conditions.”.“The post has prompted a flurry of comments from people who say Harder’s decision to share the article is ‘callous and ignorant,’” said the CBC..“Another post read, ‘How dare you minimize this disease and the threat to all of us.’”.MP Harder called the CBC story “bent,” “inaccurate” and “sensationalized.”.CBC Ombudsman Jack Nagler agreed the story appeared manufactured – “I am not a big fan of stories based on outrage over social media,” he wrote – and that there was no question data in the original Toronto Sun story were accurate..The Ombudsman called the CBC version a “significant failure” that “failed the test of balance” under the Crown broadcaster’s Journalistic Standards And Practices guide..“There were violations of policy and I hope fervently that programmers will learn from their mistakes here,” wrote Nagler..“The overall package was flawed,” he added. “CBC failed to meet standards.”.The network released the text of a written exchange between MP Harder and Bryan Labby, the CBC Calgary reporter who wrote the original story..“Do you believe people with underlying pre-existing medical conditions are less valued?” asked Labby. “Do you think less of these people because they have pre-existing conditions?”
