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| «Press Releases Mayor's views on W-FIVE show are inaccurate Why do Health Canada, CNSC refuse comment? Port Hope’s mayor, Linda Thompson, is urging community organizations to email the flagship CTV investigative program W-FIVE, out of fear that it is about to air an “unbalanced” documentary on Port Hope’s nuclear industry. The mayor apparently believes that W-FIVE did not approach either Health Canada or the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for interviews. She also told the Evening Guide that she understands Health Canada wasn’t contacted because the filming for the show was done during the recent federal election campaign, “at which time federal employees cannot speak with the media.” FARE’s past-president John Miller is a journalism professor at Ryerson University, and was asked his opinion of the mayor’s attempt to stir up opposition to a documentary that has yet to be aired. W-FIVE plans to air it on November 8. Miller, who said he was not interviewed for the show and knows nothing of its content, said W-FIVE has been in business for 43 years and has the largest audience of any investigative TV show in Canada. Its programs are seen from coast to coast and its journalists regularly win some of journalism’s highest awards. “Rest assured that it’s standard operating procedure for such shows to try to speak to everyone. It’s absolutely inconceivable that CTV wouldn’t have tried to talk to Health Canada and the CNSC. They would have tried several times.” Miller said it would make more sense for Mayor Thompson to direct her emails to those agencies, and not CTV. “If she suspects they are not on the show, it can only mean they refused to be interviewed,” Miller said. “I would want to urge them to appear. If not, I would want to know why these agencies were not stepping forward to assure a national TV audience that Port Hope is safe.” Mayor Thompson’s assertion that all the filming for the show was done during the recent federal election is inaccurate, Miller said. Such investigative shows often take six months of shooting. The election campaign was short, only five weeks long. And he said Thompson is also wrong to say civil servants cannot speak to the media during a federal election campaign. The Canada Elections Act stipulates nothing of the sort. The only such restriction during this election was issued by the Privy Council Office. According to the Ottawa Citizen, it reminded bureaucrats that during an election “the government acts with restraint, confining itself to necessary public business - continuing to communicate on matters that are routine, non-controversial, and urgent and in the public interest.” That means no press releases, policy announcements or federal advertisements. Media calls on stories that could potentially erupt into election campaign issues are not returned - unless they concern key issues of public health and safety. Questions about public safety and uranium contamination in Port Hope are clearly exempt from these restrictions. According to Miller, Health Canada and the CNSC appear to have given Mayor Thompson an “excuse,” and she appears to have swallowed it. | Scary map shows how much Cameco pollutes harbour CNSC says it must stop before low-level clean-up Does the CNSC believe THIS?? It appears to go against new scientific wisdom CNSC mystery: Was it qualified to say we're safe? Refuses to release qualifications of experts East Beach park contaminated with uranium No one is concerned Cameco lied: CNSC orders it to fix pipe Treatment systems "do not conform" Mayor's views on W-FIVE show are inaccurate Why do Health Canada, CNSC refuse comment? Write in to stop Cameco reopening polluting plant Make them clean up huge uranium spill More and more lies: Cameco's clean-up branded 'deficient' CNSC documents show lots more may be wrong  What we want regulator do do Full clean-up needed of leaking uranium Dust emissions top our concerns No targets or plan to curtail uranium Too expensive to clean up all of our waste? We need explanations of delays, extra costs FARE has issues with SEU plans at Zircatec Questions filed to CNSC concerning EA screening Zircatec gets blank cheque from CNSC No mention of concerns registered by FARE Rubber stamp for Zircatec and Cameco CNSC ignores concerns of nearly 300 intervenors Here we go again: CNSC fast-tracks SEU assessment CNSC changes rules to limit public input Evening Guide guilty on "sitting on sidelines" Panders to big advertiser instead of serving people FARE wins Canadian Environment Award Praised for stopping SEU and accurate research Uranium dioxide: We've found proof that it can burn Despite Cameco's claims, its own records don't lie How to register as an intervenor for Oct. 20 hearing CNSC coming to Port Hope and they'll hear an earful Poll: 78 percent of us want a panel review Council gets details of new public opinion poll: More oppose SEU than favour it "Reckless disregard" on fire protection Documents show how CNSC dropped the ball, and why we need a panel review FARE asks 44 questions about CNSC draft report Expects them to be answered before environmental hearings 3 groups demand independent review of SEU May 19 press conference held at Port Hope harbour 3 May 2005 - CNSC response to questions about neutron radiation Press Release 14 April 2005: Questions about Neutron Radiation 30 March 2005: Response from CNSC to FARE letter 26 March 2005: Letter from FARE to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 22 July 2004: Media Release (As read by John Morand) 22 July 2004: Research Sub Committee Statement - read by Patrick McNamara | |||||
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