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| Trouble with the links in this email? View the online version at: www.friends.ca/files/html/11feb17-kenney-np.html Dear Marty,
Ever since Harper became Leader of the Opposition, and particularly since becoming Prime Minister, FRIENDS has tracked his statements and those of his colleagues on public broadcasting and cultural sovereignty. A disturbing pattern of double-speak has emerged. We believe that Kenney's February 16th comment reflects his boss's opinion, and betrays a sinister and hostile view of Canadian public broadcasting – a view completely out of sync with Canadian public opinion. FRIENDS urgently needs your help to expose this hidden agenda before it is too late, and to preserve public broadcasting for future generations of Canadians. As you know, since November when the Parliamentary Secretary to the Heritage Minister mused publicly that "maybe it's time we get out of the broadcasting business", FRIENDS has been working flat out to remind Harper that Canadians value public broadcasting and want it to be preserved and strengthened. Already almost one hundred thousand Canadians have signed the I LOVE CBC petition. Tens of thousands have written their MPs. Scores of meetings have been arranged locally with MPs and nominated candidates in closely-contested federal ridings. On Monday, FRIENDS placed a full-page ad in the Hill Times, the Parliament Hill newspaper – a Valentine's Day message to the Prime Minister carrying the message that "78% of Canadians use the CBC each week", "81% believe that CBC is one of the things that distinguishes Canada from the United States", and that "Canadians of all political stripes love the CBC". Jason Kenney's comment that "the CBC lies all the time" strips away all camouflage, exposing for all to see the Harper government's real attitude to Canadian public broadcasting. It is a clear warning that there is a grave threat to the future of public broadcasting in this country, a warning we would be unwise to ignore. If Kenney had made his odious comment about an individual, and could not prove that it was true, he would be found guilty of libel in a court of law. In the case of our national public broadcaster, that finding can come only from the court of public opinion. FRIENDS' fundamental priority in the coming months will be to hold the Harper government to account by demonstrating audibly and visibly how much its true intentions fly in the face of Canadian public opinion. In other words – an ounce of prevention! We need your help to mount this campaign. Please take a moment to invest in FRIENDS' I LOVE CBC campaign now, before it is too late. Standing up for CBC is standing up for Canada! Sincerely, Ian Morrison P.S. Please help to expose the Harper Conservatives' sinister and hostile agenda for public broadcasting by making a secure donation right now. P.S. If you would prefer to send your contribution by postal mail, here is the address: FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting |
Yesterday, one of Prime Minister Harper's closest confidantes, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney let the cat out of the bag when he blurted out to the 
