Anderson jet-lagged, group says by James Adams
Source : Globe & Mail
Aug 30, 2002
by James Adams
Blame it on jet lag.
That's what the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting are saying in response to angry comments yesterday by Environment Minister David Anderson suggesting that perhaps his department should switch budgets with the CBC.
Mr. Anderson made his remarks after arriving at the UN's Earth Summit in Johannesburg. He was met there by reporters who asked him to comment on a survey that found close to 65 per cent of respondents said Canada should apologize to the conference for failing to meet the promise it made in Rio de Janiero 10 years ago to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.
Mr. Anderson, 65, said he was "too old to waste my time on dumb questions," and went on to criticize the news media for poor environment reporting. "I can't persuade the Canadian public if you people won't provide the information."
He specifically singled out the CBC, which has an annual budget of about $900-million, compared to the $722-million parliamentary allocation his department received for 2002-2003. "I don't have the resources of the CBC," he said. "It's a good policy question as to whether or not we should be reversing that."
Ian Morrison, chairman of the lobby group, was prepared to chalk up the remarks to "a minister with jet lag after a 15-hour trip."
