Huffington Blows into Canada

Remember the outcry over Sun News Network – the supposed “Fox News North” was accused by the hysterical left of being everything from a waste of space on your tv dial to the harbinger of Armageddon itself.

So imagine how surprised I was to see that the Huffington Post has a new Canadian version. The oddly popular apparent love child of the National Enquirer and Earl Browder, contributing relatively little to intelligent discourse south of the border, has spawned a clone now in the Great White North. In taking a look at it, I found the original HuffPo with a smattering of unsurprisingly left-wing Canadian commentary. Oh – and they stuck a Maple Leaf on the title. I'm shivering.

But where then is the outcry over the American intrusion into the Canadian media sphere that there was with the idea of an actual Canadian version of Fox News, let alone the outrage cultivated by American Avaaz.org over the creation of Sun News Network?

I mean, surely those voices decrying the idea of the Americanization of Canadian media coverage when they jumped on Sun would just as vigorously denounce this intrusion from the opposite end of the political spectrum? They wouldn't have been opposing only because they wanted to restrict the ability of those who hold to a different political ideology to have the same media access as the left currently has through the CBC?

I should say I have absolutely no problem with the Huff n' Blow coming to Canada. I am a firm believer in freedom of expression, and a free marketplace of ideas. If they can jump over the border and find a solid readership amongst the soft of logic amongst us, then more power to them.

I just still hold to the absurd hope that the left might own up to their own hypocrisy.

Good News!

So the day is finally here - at least for those with the right cable or satellite provider.  Finally there will be a new 24-hour news/opinion channel, Sun News.  Advertising "Hard News and Straight Talk", this is the channel referred to as "Fox News North" by the chattering classes of the left and many who assume those chattering classes have a clue.


So, what to expect?  This is a channel whose editorial views will likely skew towards the right of the two current Canadian news channels, CTV News Channel and CBC News Network, and that isn't a bad thing.  Too often Canadian news provides a voice for some viewpoints but not others, holds up one opinion while criticizing the other.  The idea of a news source which, in it's editorial bent, is at least open to the ideas espoused by those of a more conservative or libertarian bent, seems likely to have the same impact on the Canadian marketplace of ideas as opening a window has on a sleepy science class - bringing new life and a recognition of the possibilities inherent in a well argued debate.


One accusation by the political left is that the new channel will have a lowering effect on the level of political discourse in Canada.  But this is only true if one assumes that ideas from the political right are somehow inferior and unworthy of discussion.  If, on the other hand the idea of real debate is seen as of benefit, then the expansion of journalistic voices can only be seen as positive.


And ultimately the final decision will come down to whether or not Canadians will subscribe.  Whereas the CTV and CBC channels are mandatory for cable and satellite providers to carry as part of their basic packages, both analog and digital, Sun News will be optional.  If Canadians want Sun, they will have to choose it, and pay extra for it.


So, in response to those who've decried the launch of Sun News channel, let's give it a year.  Maybe by this time next year we will have a better idea of what it's about, and how it fits into the Canadian news scene.