Conservative MP urges Ottawa to ban Chinese state broadcaster from airwaves
CBC
A Conservative MP is renewing calls for the federal government to ban authoritarian state broadcasters, including the China Global Television Network.
"CGTN, China's authoritarian state-controlled broadcaster, is still operating here, spreading disinformation, propaganda and violating international human rights laws," said Michael Chong, the Conservative foreign affairs critic, during a parliamentary committee hearing Monday night.
As the Toronto Star has reported, the international human rights organization Safeguard Defenders lodged a complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) back in 2019 against China Global Television Network (CGTN) and China Central Television's Chinese-language international channel CCTV-4.
Safeguard Defenders alleges the two networks have aired the forced confessions of 60 people who were detained by Chinese authorities — including the organization's director, Peter Dahlin.
During Monday's committee hearing, Chong asked Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino why the federal government hasn't issued an order under section seven of the Broadcasting Act, which permits the government to issue general policy directions to the CRTC.
Mendicino said that while he shares Chong's "profound concerns about the distribution of any kind of disinformation," the CRTC is an independent body.
Chong pointed out that the government asked the CRTC to review the licence of the state-controlled Russian television network RT just last year.The regulator later removed RT (formerly known as Russia Today) and RT France from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations that are allowed to broadcast in this country.
"I would hope it doesn't take a war for the government to change its position on state-controlled authoritarian broadcasters on public, Crown-owned airwaves," Chong said.
When asked if the government would consider Chong's request, a spokesperson for Heritage Minster Pablo Rodriguez again stated that the CRTC is meant to be independent.
"It is not, and should never be, up to the government to decide which channel is authorized and which is not," said Laura Scaffidi.
"It is up to the independent regulator, the CRTC, to consult with Canadians and make those decisions in Canada's best interest."
Chong told CBC News the government's response has been "baffling."
He said he wants to see the CRTC adopt a general policy of denying broadcast applications from authoritarian state media entities.
"We're calling on the government to direct the CRTC to a new broadcasting policy of general application that authoritarian state controlled broadcasters, which spread propaganda and disinformation and which violate international human rights law, should not be on the list," said Chong. "There's no excuse."