{"id":3778,"date":"2012-06-16T08:13:30","date_gmt":"2012-06-16T12:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=3778"},"modified":"2012-06-16T08:13:30","modified_gmt":"2012-06-16T12:13:30","slug":"cabinet-silences-canadas-international-voice-rci-action-responds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/cabinet-silences-canadas-international-voice-rci-action-responds\/","title":{"rendered":"Cabinet silences Canada’s international voice, RCI Action responds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Yesterday, as I toured Radio Canada International’s Sackville, New Brunswick transmission site, the Canadian press discovered that the Cabinet approved an order that paves the way for RCI to be dismantled. The\u00a0Metro News<\/a>\u00a0reported:<\/p>\n

Heritage Minister James Moore recommended an order in council, approved on June 7, that deleted a requirement for RCI to maintain a shortwave service.<\/p>\n

That change removed an obstacle to the steep cuts the CBC had announced for RCI in April \u2014 $10 million of $12.3 million budget will disappear along with at least three-quarters of its work force.<\/p>\n

RCI had planned to file an injunction this past week to prevent CBC from shutting down its shortwave broadcasting facilities, but the new order thwarted their lawyers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how this happened. I\u2019m just shocked that it did happen. I\u2019m shocked that the minister would make this decision two months after CBC announced the budget cut, two months after the CBC announced they were cutting shortwave,\u201d said Wojtek Gwiazda, spokesman for the RCI Action Committee, a union-supported lobby trying to save the international service.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Ottawa Citizen<\/a> quoted RCI Action spokesman,\u00a0Wojtek Gwiazda, extensively:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAs of June 25, most of the original content will disappear,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause we won\u2019t have the people to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thirty of 45 permanent employees are being laid off, along with a dozen or more contract workers and other regular freelancers.<\/p>\n

Gwiazda, spokesman for a group inside RCI attempting to salvage the short wave service and its original programming, said a proposed injunction on behalf of RCI employees was thwarted last week when the Conservative cabinet quietly and quickly changed two key rules under which RCI operates.<\/p>\n

Under previous rules, RCI was legally obliged to provide a shortwave service and to consult regularly with the Department of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n

The government, in its June 7 rule change, has dropped both those requirements.<\/p>\n

A spokesman for the Department of Canadian Heritage confirmed the change had been made, but refused to say why.<\/p>\n

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not respond to questions about the issue.<\/p>\n

[…]NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar accused the CBC and the Conservative government of \u201ctaking Canada\u2019s voice off the world stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is sneaky,\u201d he said in an interview with the Citizen. \u201cThey are pretending they aren\u2019t killing it, but they are. Our Commonwealth cousins and others in the G8 have made a commitment that the world should hear their voices. Why not Canada\u2019s?<\/p>\n

\u201cHow will we keep people in other countries informed about Canada and how will Canada\u2019s voice be heard by the international community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dewar says he\u2019s hearing negative reaction to the RCI cuts from MPs in all parties, and the NDP has written to both Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Heritage Minister James Moore urging a reversal of the decision.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWe are appealing to them to find the money and put this essential service back where it belongs,\u2019 added Dewar. \u201cCanada needs its voice heard and we have to figure out a way to do it. It\u2019s not a lot of money. Let\u2019s find it. Let\u2019s not leave RCI orphaned.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Metro News<\/a>\u00a0also quoted me:<\/p>\n

Thomas Witherspoon, founder of an American non-profit organization called Ears to Our World, said it is shortsighted to cut RCI\u2019s shortwave service because it represents a cost-effective way of showing Canada to the world.<\/p>\n

Witherspoon, whose organization distributes shortwave radios to communities in the developing world, recently wrote an impassioned opinion piece defending RCI.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere on the overly-lit, information-saturated North American continent, it\u2019s easy to forget that an estimated 1.6 billion human beings \u2014 a full one quarter of us \u2014 still lack access to reliable power and to the Internet,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn remote, impoverished, often war-torn regions, radio has become a familiar voice in the darkness. Without radio broadcasters such as RCI \u2014 and the light of information they can relay \u2014 the night can become very dark, indeed.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

RCI Action formed a response<\/a> to the Cabinet’s decision:<\/p>\n

Hon. James Moore,<\/p>\n

A little more than 24 hours ago we at the RCI Action Committee found out that on June 7, 2012, you changed the Order in Council that directs CBC\/Radio-Canada in its obligations under the Broadcasting Act in dealing with Radio Canada International.<\/p>\n

You have eliminated CBC\u2019s obligation to provide programming on shortwave, depriving almost all Chinese listeners of uncensored news from Canada, since the website of RCI is blocked by the Chinese authorities. And you have made it impossible for most listeners in the world to stay abreast of what\u2019s going on in Canada via radio, because most people do not have easy access to the Internet.<\/p>\n

You have also abolished CBC\u2019s obligation to consult with Foreign Affairs about the geographic target areas and languages we broadcast in. Letting it continue in the slashing of services to the Ukraine, Russia and Brazil.<\/p>\n

And you have done this after two months of CBC being in contempt of the 2003 Order in Council. Just as we were preparing an injunction to stop the shutting down of shortwave transmissions.<\/p>\n

You have cleared the way for the CBC\u2019s destruction of a 67 year old institution. An institution that CBC\/Radio-Canada has never understood. It does not understand international broadcasting, the importance of it, and the impact of the 80% cut you are letting them get away with.<\/p>\n

It is ironic.<\/p>\n

Chinese authorities block RCI\u2019s website. They have not jammed the shortwave frequencies of Radio Canada International. So you\u2019ve done it for them, by shutting down RCI\u2019s Chinese radio programming.<\/p>\n

Why have you done this?<\/p>\n

Yours truly,<\/p>\n

Wojtek Gwiazda<\/p>\n

Spokesperson, RCI Action Committee<\/p>\n

rciaction@yahoo.ca<\/a>
\nrciaction.org\/blog<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Follow our tag, RCI Cuts<\/a> to follow these developments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, as I toured Radio Canada International’s Sackville, New Brunswick transmission site, the Canadian press discovered that the Cabinet approved an order that paves the way for RCI to be dismantled. The\u00a0Metro News\u00a0reported: Heritage Minister James Moore recommended an order in council, approved on June 7, that deleted a requirement for RCI to maintain a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,3],"tags":[1042,1041,631,1040,30,1039,1046,1044,1043,1045,4082,1107,317],"class_list":["post-3778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-news","tag-cbc-budget","tag-cbc-cuts","tag-radio-canada-international","tag-radio-canada-international-cuts","tag-rci","tag-rci-cuts","tag-rci-ends-shortwave","tag-sackville-closure","tag-sackville-new-brunswick","tag-sackville-transmitter-site-closure","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-the-toronto-star","tag-thomas-witherspoon"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-YW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3202,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/radio-canada-international-to-end-shortwave-broadcasts-sackville-to-be-closed\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":0},"title":"Oh, Canada: Radio Canada International to end shortwave broadcasts, Sackville to be closed","author":"Thomas","date":"April 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This is another sad day for international broadcasting. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has announced sweeping cuts that will eliminate 650 jobs over the course of 3 years. In a strategic plan called, Same Strategy, Different Path, they specifically outline their cuts of shortwave and satellite transmissions which will also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/CBCbuilding-300x168.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3335,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/rci-listener-comments-carry-common-theme\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":1},"title":"RCI listener comments carry common theme","author":"Thomas","date":"April 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"On RCI's Listener Letters and the RCI Action committee's website, you can read listener reactions to the looming RCI cuts. To their credit, I've noticed that RCI programs (like The Link\u00a0with Marc Montgomery) are continuing \"business as usual.\" I've noticed no degradation of their content or quality.","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/TheLinkRCI.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3217,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/the-link-talks-about-the-cuts-at-rci\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":2},"title":"The Link talks about the cuts at RCI","author":"Thomas","date":"April 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In this interview with Levon Sevunts, producer for RCI's The Link, we get a little more insight into the impact of these cuts at Radio Canada International. One notable quote from the audio interview:\u00a0Sevunts states rather bluntly, \"RCI is getting out of radio altogether.\" RCI's last day of broadcasting will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/TheLinkRCI.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3445,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/05\/the-toronto-star-publishes-my-thoughts-on-the-cuts-to-radio-canada-international\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":3},"title":"The Toronto Star publishes my thoughts on the cuts to Radio Canada International","author":"Thomas","date":"May 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"As many of you know, I find the downsizing of major shortwave broadcasters around the world deeply concerning, especially since so much of the world still relies on the medium as a source of news and information, and for some the only source of potentially life-saving information. The recent cuts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/TheNetwork-TheTorontoStar.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3214,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/helene-parent-two-out-of-three-rci-employees-will-lose-their-jobs-by-the-end-of-july\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":4},"title":"Helene Parent: “two out of three RCI employees will lose their jobs by the end of July”","author":"Thomas","date":"April 5, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It appears that the cuts at Radio Canada International will be deep and swift (see below). (Source: RCInet.ca) Spending cuts announced last week in Canada's latest federal budget have reached Radio Canada International. Speaking to employees at RCI's headquarters in Montreal on Wednesday, RCI director Helene Parent declared that two\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/RCI-300x93.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3292,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/the-gazette-tributes-to-rci-pour-in-from-around-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":3778,"position":5},"title":"The Gazette: Tributes to RCI pour in from around the world","author":"Thomas","date":"April 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of messages to The Gazette in response to the cuts to Radio Canada International (RCI): (Source: MontrealGazette.com) \u201cThis is absolutely dreadful. RCI has been one of the best shortwave radio stations and a much-needed voice of solid, objective reporting. I\u2019ve been a loyal listener from the mid-1990s and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/RCI-300x93.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3778\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}