Source : Hollywood Reporter

by Etan Vlessing

Toronto – The Friends of Canadian Broadcasting on Monday called for new laws to bar Canadian cablecasters and broadcasters from contributing to politicians seeking federal office or to their parties.

In the report, "Follow the Money: Federal Political Contributions by Canada's Broadcasting Industry, 1993-2000," the lobby group representing 50,000 TV viewers said fewer and larger Canadian broadcasters are giving more money to politicians in Ottawa, especially to the governing Liberal party.

Friends spokesman Ian Morrison said growing media concentration and larger political contributions has worrying implications for news coverage of the federal political scene.

"Shareholders of companies operating in a federally regulated industry might well applaud giving cash to federal politicians as a useful business expense, but the interests of Canadian democracy are not being served," Morrison said.

"The scope for abuse is already wide enough when so few media companies filter news received by Canadians," he added.

The Friends report recommended changes be made to the Canada Elections Act to prohibit corporations or individuals who control broadcasting licences from making financial contributions to a federal political party or candidate for federal office.

The report pointed to three broadcast giants dependent on the federal government for network licences: Rogers Communications Inc., phone giant BCE Inc. and CanWest Global Communications Corp. – all of which are among the top 20 donors to the Liberal Party.

© Hollywood Reporter