The two national broadcasting networks, CBC and CTV, do not have reporters wearing poppies.
Pursuing this, the national Royal Legion explained that wear a poppy is personal. Maybe the networks have a schedule, namely Nov. 1st.
The BBC reporters all wear poppies. This is not a personal issue for national broadcasters.
I sent the CBC ombudsman, Jack Nagler, the letter below. A couple of days ago, he responded to my phone call that he would pass on the message to the Editor in Chief of the news team. Nothing! Every person on CBC news and CTV news is ‘poppyless.’ This is far from being a personal issue….it is a matter of being a respectful Canadian but perhaps being such is not the CBC or CTV regard as having importance to the news….the national news.
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An open letter
“Hello Mr. Nagler,
Again I plead with you…RE: wearing of poppies.
The BBC news reporters are wearing poppies; all MPs are wearing poppies; all MPPs are wearing poppies; every politician, municipal, provincial and national is wearing a poppy. All these people are honouring the fallen of the past wars.
It is an absolute SHAME, our national broadcasting network, does not have one single reporter or news anchor paying respect to Canadian veterans on Remembrance Day. This is amazingly SHAMEFUL.
To say I am more than ashamed at the failure of our national broadcasting network to remember is putting it mildly. I am disgusted that the network has failed to honour our veterans, pay respect by adhering to practiced traditions in the country. You can be sure, I will publish and talk about this shameful omission by the CBC every opportunity I get.
I am proud to be a Canadian, ashamed that CBC is our national news network.
CC: Jennifer O’Connell, Member of Parliament
Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, Queen’s Park
Mayor Kevin Ashe, City of Pickering
President, Mike McFarlane, Canadian Legion, Br. 606
Treasury Exec, Helen Wishnowski, Canadian Legion, Br. 606”
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His reply:
Dear Mr. Szpin,
I am sharing your email with Mr. Fenlon as a supplement to your earlier complaint.
I should note that a few years ago, when I was working for CBC News, it was generally the practice for on-air journalists to begin wearing poppies on November 1. So you may wish to see how things look over the weekend before drawing too many conclusions.
Sincerely,
Jack Nagler
CBC Ombudsman
