NDP calls out CBC for hiring

Charlie Angus wants the CBC to explain why it is paying Stephen Harper’s former director of communications to provide political commentary, arguing his employment is a “flagrant violation” of the public broadcaster’s hiring practices.

There’s more: Mr. Angus, the NDP’s heritage critic, complains that Kory Teneycke’s characterization of his leader, Jack Layton, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff as “a couple of spineless wets,” is biased political commentary.

The questions, the criticisms and comments are contained in a pointed letter he sent to CBC Ombudsman Vince Carlin yesterday calling the Tory pundit’s role on the network an “issue of serious concern.”

Mr. Angus says Mr. Teneycke’s hiring is at “total odds with the Journalistic Standards and Practices of CBC.” The New Democrat notes there is to be a two-year cooling off period between a partisan’s departure from his or her political party or pressure group and their employment by the broadcaster.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ndp-calls-out-cbc-for-hiring-harpers-former-chief-spin-doctor/article1556414/
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 1:30 PM

What's good for the goose...

As well.

Wonder how she will answer the two year part. I suppose that now, equal time will have to be given to all federal parties.

CBC is pandering to the Harperites, and flagrantly violating this two year rule, so they might not continue to cut or threaten to cut more of their funding.

It's a pathetic excuse for them to use, but I bet dollars to donuts it's the truth behind this Teneycke thing.

'Match International says it's one of 11 organizations to lose funding as part of ‘ideological punishment’ meted out against those pushing for abortion to be included in G8 maternal plan'

So I wouldn't be surprised if the CBC was doing this to fend off yet more spending cuts.

Kory Teneycke is a highly partisan political commentator but so what. His occasional paid appearances on CBC news programs do not break the public broadcaster’s rules around journalistic standards and practices, it argues.

“He does not appear in any journalistic capacity … brings with it the onus of fairness and impartiality,” CBC editor-in-chief Jennifer McGuire writes, dismissing a complaint from NDP heritage critic Charlie Angus about the former Harper spin doctor’s employment. “Rather, he speaks … as a sometimes highly partisan political commentator.”

In a letter to CBC ombudsman Vince Carlin this week, Mr. Angus asserted the CBC’s employment of the Prime Minister’s former director of communications is a “flagrant violation” of the broadcaster’s hiring practices that state there is to be a two-year cooling off period between a partisan’s departure from his or her political party or pressure group and their employment by the broadcaster.

But since he is not a journalist and not reporting for the network, the CBC says he is good to go. “We have been completely transparent with our audiences about his affiliations and employment background,” Ms. McGuire writes, “including his recent position as spokesperson within the Prime Minister’s Office.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/cbc-defends-hiring-conservative-spin-doctor/article1557647/

Looks like this requires another letter from Vince. The reply seems to miss the accusation. He seems to have a contract with the CBC. He seems to be profiting from that contract. He seems to be in a position of influence. Two years haven't passed since he left the PMO office.

Seems to be a very weak response to me.