William Chambers VP Communications, CBC Dear Mr. Chambers,
I write to you as chair of a seniors' social action group called the Seniors' Action and Liaison Team (SALT). We are a politically not aligned, self financed group of seniors in Edmonton interested in fostering the civil society here in Alberta, in our country and abroad. Any success we have had comes in part from our liaison with other groups interested in fostering the public interest. These groups include the teachers, nurses, progressive churches, unions, student associations, faculty associations, Public Interest Alberta, and others. All of these allies tend to be strong supporters of CBC. This certainly characterizes the membership in SALT.
This letter comes to you, then, out of sadness rather than anger. We perceive as an extraordinary lack of sensitivity by CBC management to the political situation here in Alberta. For over a decade now we have been battling a hugely powerful provincial government which has as its major and overriding agenda the erosion of the public interest. This has been aided and abetted by the private, for-profit media in Alberta which has pushed corporate interests to an alarming level. We also note this trend across our country. Into this void has come Don Hill. He has been a balanced, province wide voice raising the public agenda on provincial matters on Wild Rose Forum. You have just declared his position as redundant!
SALT has undertaken extensive research into this case. We have uncovered many more questions than answers! We have also asked for the CBC side of the story, but our request of Mr. Don Orchard in this regard has gone unanswered.
We are aware of the serious under funding of CBC, and we know that that situation is exacerbated by the loss of revenue from Hockey Night in Canada. We are also aware of the political trickery that governments utilize these days in promising funding for various initiatives and institutions, but over a periods of extended years. Often the revenues do not materialize because of other political events or the calling of elections. We have also experienced the termination or reassignments of defenders of the public interest in the private media sphere.
The removal of Don Hill has created a media chill in Alberta. There is essentially no semblance of balance now in defence of the public interest in our province.
His loss is so significant that we urgently request a face to face meeting with you in Edmonton on the Don Hill matter.
Sincerely,
Brian Staples