CBC News: The National featured a panel discussion about the Alberta Sovereignty Act (ASA) without bringing on a single guest from Western Canada. .“Can you imagine CBC holding a similar panel on Quebec without having anyone on from Quebec or even east of Regina?” said Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley in a Friday tweet. .“This is what $1.5 billion a year buys you.”.Lilley mocked the panelists by calling them the “Laurentian elite.” .The panel aired on Thursday and featured Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hebert, BuzzFeed News senior culture writer Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, and Toronto Star columnist Althia Raj. Hebert lives in Montreal, Abdelmahmoud and Coyne reside in Toronto, and Raj is in Ottawa. .“The act is already raising questions about its constitutionality,” said CBC News host Rosemary Barton. .“So what is the motive behind (Danielle) Smith’s power grab and what’s the likelihood of the powers being used.” .Hebert started off the discussion by saying “the first play here is let’s have the federal government take on Alberta so we can run an election campaign, us versus them.” .“That bill strays so far outside the lines of the constitution it has found very little support, except for the Saskatchewan premier, which should tell you something,” she said. .Office of the Premier of Alberta Executive Director Rob Anderson mocked the show..“Not one person from Western Canada lol,” said Anderson. .“CBC has such a lack of self-awareness.”.Alberta Institute President and Founder Peter McCaffrey agreed with Lilley. .“Imagine CBC held a panel on Quebec sovereignty, and only had guests from BC, AB, and SK,” said McCaffrey. .The Alberta government introduced the ASA to fight federal laws and policies affecting the province’s interests on Tuesday. .READ MORE: Smith introduces bill to defend Albertans from Ottawa overreach.It will use the act to stand up to federal government overreach and interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction, including in private property, natural resources, agriculture, firearms, economic regulations, and delivery of heath, education, and other social programs.."The Canadian Constitution is clear — the federal and provincial governments are equals, each with our own areas of exclusive jurisdiction,” said Smith. .The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) launched a petition in February calling for the $1.4-billion in funding to the CBC and the $600-million media bailout to end. .READ MORE: CTF calls for end to CBC funding, media bailouts.“That’s bad for taxpayers, but you know that’s also bad for the media’s credibility when it should be holding governments accountable,” said the CTF. .“You should be able to choose which media organization you want to support.”
CBC News: The National featured a panel discussion about the Alberta Sovereignty Act (ASA) without bringing on a single guest from Western Canada. .“Can you imagine CBC holding a similar panel on Quebec without having anyone on from Quebec or even east of Regina?” said Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley in a Friday tweet. .“This is what $1.5 billion a year buys you.”.Lilley mocked the panelists by calling them the “Laurentian elite.” .The panel aired on Thursday and featured Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hebert, BuzzFeed News senior culture writer Elamin Abdelmahmoud, Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, and Toronto Star columnist Althia Raj. Hebert lives in Montreal, Abdelmahmoud and Coyne reside in Toronto, and Raj is in Ottawa. .“The act is already raising questions about its constitutionality,” said CBC News host Rosemary Barton. .“So what is the motive behind (Danielle) Smith’s power grab and what’s the likelihood of the powers being used.” .Hebert started off the discussion by saying “the first play here is let’s have the federal government take on Alberta so we can run an election campaign, us versus them.” .“That bill strays so far outside the lines of the constitution it has found very little support, except for the Saskatchewan premier, which should tell you something,” she said. .Office of the Premier of Alberta Executive Director Rob Anderson mocked the show..“Not one person from Western Canada lol,” said Anderson. .“CBC has such a lack of self-awareness.”.Alberta Institute President and Founder Peter McCaffrey agreed with Lilley. .“Imagine CBC held a panel on Quebec sovereignty, and only had guests from BC, AB, and SK,” said McCaffrey. .The Alberta government introduced the ASA to fight federal laws and policies affecting the province’s interests on Tuesday. .READ MORE: Smith introduces bill to defend Albertans from Ottawa overreach.It will use the act to stand up to federal government overreach and interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction, including in private property, natural resources, agriculture, firearms, economic regulations, and delivery of heath, education, and other social programs.."The Canadian Constitution is clear — the federal and provincial governments are equals, each with our own areas of exclusive jurisdiction,” said Smith. .The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) launched a petition in February calling for the $1.4-billion in funding to the CBC and the $600-million media bailout to end. .READ MORE: CTF calls for end to CBC funding, media bailouts.“That’s bad for taxpayers, but you know that’s also bad for the media’s credibility when it should be holding governments accountable,” said the CTF. .“You should be able to choose which media organization you want to support.”
