Thursday, August 28, 2008

MP's Denis Coderre and André Arthur get television gigs

I didn't see this news story in the English press, so I thought I'd blog about it.

Two MP's are going to become regulars on French television.

Independent MP André Arthur will host a noon-hour talk show on TQS. He's best known in Quebec for his radio talk show. I'm wondering if his style will translate well onto television, and whether this will interfere with his duties as an MP. I mean-- he's getting "free" airtime, and if he wants to pontificate, he can.

Nothing wrong with that, but if this is going to be "serious" journalism-- shouldn't it be a little more impartial.

(I know what some are thinking: Voyons, Suzanne, it's TQS...serious journalism, *roll eyes*).

The article mentions that the CRTC rules stipulate that during elections or a referendum, a candidate must quit his television job.

Denis Coderre, the Liberal Culture critic, will be showing up weekly on Bazzo.tv, which is a talk show. He'll comment and critique various movies and cultural productions.

He defends his gig saying that he's not getting paid.

But NDP MP Thomas Mulcair says that it could be politically sensitive because cultural producers get subsidies, and his reviews could be perceived as politically motivated.

I find these developments curious. There's something about this story that isn't quite right, but I can't put my finger on it.



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