Source : Windsor Star

'I think there should be a Senate inquiry,' Asper says

The organizer for American late-night television host Conan O'Brien's much-hyped visit to Toronto next month has banned the National Post from access to the star after the paper ran an article that raised questions about taxpayer funding of the event.

Peter Soumalias, Toronto organizer for "Conan in Toronto," wrote a letter to the Post on Friday stating: "The Post will not be given any access to this event nor the people involved."

The ban was issued one day after the Post ran a front-page article in which representatives of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation questioned the legitimacy of all Canadians footing part of the tab for a highly paid entertainer visiting the Ontario capital.

The federally funded Toronto 03 Alliance program and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism have put together $1 million to pay for the relocation of the cast and part of the crew of NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien, which is normally taped in New York City.

The event is part of efforts to boost tourism to Toronto in the wake of last year's SARS epidemic.

"At the Post, we are opposed to government subsidies, particularly when they apply to indefensibly whimsical or ludicrous projects such as luring American talk-show hosts to Toronto," said the Post's editor-in-chief, Matthew Fraser. "We are not convinced that Conan O'Brien's chat show is a sensible way to boost tourism in Toronto. Neither are we convinced that Canadian taxpayers, especially those who do not live in the city, should subsidize tourism in Toronto."

In Thursday's Post, David Hanley, provincial director of the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation in B.C., asked: "Are they going to bring him out west next because of the mad cow crisis?"

A publicist for NBC did not return requests for comment Friday and it is not clear whether the network was informed of Soumalias' ban.

"I think there should be a Senate inquiry," Post chairman David Asper said of Soumalias' reaction. "This guy is backed by public money and he is trying to censor the media. I think it's utterly ridiculous."

Asper said it is the job of journalists to question how and where federal and provincial funds are spent.

The Post ran an article Friday in which Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty defended O'Brien's visit, saying the bill to bring the star to Toronto will be more than compensated by the publicity the show will generate for the city.

"Given the media coverage that we're going to get and the viewing audience, given the fact they're going to provide some great exposure to some Canadian talent, I think it's a great investment," McGuinty said.

The Post and The Windsor Star are both owned by CanWest Global.

© Windsor Star