Glacier Media makes $100,000 donation to B.C. Liberals

A Canadian media giant, Canwest Global Communications Corp., has fallen on hard times, so perhaps it shouldn't be a big surprise that it didn't show up in the list of large donors to the B.C. Liberals this year.

In 2005, Canwest contributed $50,000 to the party. But this year, there's no record of any donations. Recently, Canwest media outlets, particularly the Province newspaper, have been slapping the B.C. Liberals around over such issues as health cuts, the harmonized sales tax, and the B.C. Rail case.

But there's a rising publishing company that has stepped into the breach: Vancouver-based  Glacier Media Inc.

On January 7, it handed over $100,000 to the B.C. Liberals, according to the party's disclosure to Elections B.C.

It owns community and daily papers across Western Canada, including the Whistler Question, the Squamish Chief, the Powell River Peak, the Nelson Daily News, and the Prince Rupert Daily News. It also owns Business in Vancouver, which is a weekly paper in Vancouver, as well as three papers in Ontario and Quebec.

The company bought Hollinger Inc.  assets that weren't picked up by Canwest in 2000. Hollinger was previously controlled by Conrad Black and David Radler.

Glacier's chairman, Sam Grippo, used to run Hollinger's community newspapers in Metro Vancouver. Glacier, which keeps a relatively low profile, has remained profitable despite a downturn in newspaper advertising. For the six months ending June 30, it posted a profit of $11.1 million on revenues of $118 million.

It's worth keeping an eye on Glacier because it, along with Black Press and Torstar, could one day be in the running to buy Canwest assets.

The B.C. Liberals are certainly aware of Glacier. Sometimes, Premier Gordon Campbell can be a helpful friend.

In 2007,  Campbell wrote a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission endorsing CTVglobemedia's proposed takeover of CHUM, which owned the Citytv station in Vancouver.

Unfortunately for CTVgm, the CRTC rejected the company's application to take over  five Citytv stations across Canada, which is part of the reason why the Vancouver outlet is now owned by Rogers.

Comments

3 Comments

Salty

Aug 18, 2009 at 8:19am

If you already haven't, then a piece on Glacier and Black may be in order given how they may be at the Canwest (asset) helm soon. Who are they and how do they run a ship.

RollEyesNow

Aug 18, 2009 at 10:27am

Little wonder why the people never hear the truth in the MSM - truth that the media has a duty to report if journalism is alive and well. Right now it is sick.

There are inherent conflicts of interest when media become financially invested with political parties and their political corporate fueled events/projects such as VANOC. They report what is in their owners best interests.

The see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil . . . . or WRITE no evil facts/deeds that are against the best interests of the PEOPLE . . . . . becomes the operative spin.

Democracy has been suppressed in British Columbia by a small Club of questionable linkages and vested interests.

Tons of Money to Be Made

Sep 10, 2009 at 12:36pm

Keeping people from the news, as in BC we live the facade as media is only to eager to pull the wool over the publics eye, for a cost. Campbell has made a point of creating a fascade of all the Ministries while CEO's, Media and Government share the spoils as money allotted for programs makes its way into BC Liberals slush fund. How much money has Campbell's Liberals spent on distorting the message as advertisers are only to happy to spread the word even if it is false.
And where the money goes after that, your guess is as good as mine.
Should we ask government? That is only a receipe for disaster as Campbell promises BC no cuts to education, no HST, and no defecit to speak of while the media goes at the NDP saying they are fear mongers and full of hot air.
I do believe media you have your parties mixed up but no surprise as Canwest does BC and its Olympics. With out this trickery you would think the media giant would be living the high life instead of watching his paper turn to rags while his coporation goes under.

Democracy is no more, and it hurts in more ways than one as parents and educators were lied to, while media sits on the sidelines and now schools and educators and children must go without. Campbell's and Canwest's lies have really cost BC families and their children as left in the lurch as told no cuts to education so need to look for cash else where. Now what?
We have Glacier Media who wants to get into the action too!