Login / RegisterRafe Mair says CBC Radio fired him as a commentator
For many years, I worked on the CBC Early Edition show, and I have fond memories of my colleagues there.
But it's been a very long time since I've been employed at the Mother Corp., which leaves me free to comment on the newest controversy.
I just read on Rafe Mair's Facebook page that he has been fired as a Monday morning political commentator.
He's claiming that his dismissal was "a result of political pressure from the Clark government".
Mair, a fiery former Social Credit cabinet minister and ardent environmentalist, was in many respects an ideal analyst.
He had worked inside government, so he was in a position to know how politicians and bureaucrats try to snow the public.
He's also somewhat unpredictable, often criticizing the B.C. Liberals but sometimes calling out the NDP.
If I were to put Mair on an ideological spectrum, I would describe him as one of those middle-of-the-road Greens, albeit with a strong dislike of anything that he thinks jeopardizes the natural environment. That includes fish farms and run-of-river power projects.
These days with the exception of David Suzuki's The Nature of Things and the Quirks and Quarks radio show, the green movement doesn't get a ton of airtime on CBC.
Meanwhile, viewers of the National are sometimes subjected to the climate-science denying rubbish of Rex Murphy and the tar-sands-defending Bruce Anderson on the At Issue panel.
And that's what made Mair such an asset to the CBC. I heard things from him that none of the others would say on the airwaves. And Mair's definitely not a political lackey.
Unfortunately, that's what some of the political analysis on radio shows has devolved into. Complete partisans—such as NDP president Moe Sihota and B.C. Liberal propagandist Suzanne Anton—never criticize their own side, but are quick to slam the others.
This stands in sharp contrast to how Mair approached the job of being on the radio.
I'll miss his presence on Monday mornings. And because he won't be there, I'm going to be a little more likely to flip the dial to CKNW, News 1130, or Co-op Radio because without his outbursts, there will be far fewer surprises for the listeners.
"Meanwhile, viewers of the National are sometimes subjected to the climate-denying rubbish of Rex Murphy and the tar-sands-defending Bruce Anderson on the At Issue panel."
When did Rex Murphy (one of my favorite columnists) deny we're affected by the climate? (Those who vilify people who question are the close-minded ones.)The "tar-sands" is correctly called the OIL sands. Any rational person would defend the oil sands as a generator of employment and a source of tax revenue for the country. The Alberta (and Saskatchewan) oil fields employ Canadians from every province.
Rex Murphy is one of my favourite columnists.
I'm sure there are other radio stations that would jump at the chance to have Rafe Mair as a program host. His tell-it-like-it-is approach is refreshing. I hope he keeps writing, too. There aren't many like him.
"Wow - that is really disappointing news. I really loved hearing the political panel on CBC and was always interested in Rafe's take on things. I've just lost interest now. Ever since they got Anton on there it's been hard - she's like fingernails on a blackboard"
Not even the CBC is "left" anymore. Fuck!
Miguel
"I'm going to be a little more likely to flip the dial OFF" is the sane response.
The Straight does this too---and if a Big Guy like Rafe Mair isn't protected, the little guys that the cocksuckers working for the Straight, etc. work out on are totally fucked.
Remember when the GS was into free speech? No, I bet most of you weren't even born, or were perhaps busy watching insipid television.
Told it the way it is and with honor while fighting for a good cause.
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