Fox News could be banned from Canadian TV as CRTC considers allegations network promotes ‘hatred and violence’
The federal agency tasked with regulating Canada's broadcasting and television services is mulling a ban on Fox News from Canadian cable packages.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is seeking public comments on whether to remove the right-wing network from its list of stations authorized for distribution in Canada.
The CRTC's consultation process, running until June 2, follows an open letter issued by the LGBTQ advocacy group Egale Canada, which argued the American channel promotes hatred and violence against 2SLGBTQI communities."
The April letter, which called on the federal agency to initiate a public hearing on the issue, came after the Toronto-based organization was featured on Fox News's Tucker Carlson Tonight."
Egale Canada said the program's now former host, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, made false and horrifying claims" about individuals who are Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming.
During the segment, Carlson made the inflammatory and false claim that trans people are targeting' Christians. To position trans people in existential opposition to Christianity is an incitement of violence against trans people that is plain to any viewer," read the letter, signed by Egale Canada executive director Helen Kennedy and addressed to Vicky Eatrides, chairperson and CEO of the CRTC.
This programming is in clear violation of Canadian broadcasting standards and has no place on Canadian broadcasting networks."
Neither Fox News nor Tucker Carlson immediately responded to the Star's request for comment.
Under Canada's Broadcasting Act, the CRTC is not legally required to open a public hearing in response to every complaint it receives, but may do so if it is satisfied that it would be in the public interest."
As of Friday morning, the CRTC has published more than 50 comments submitted by the public. The majority of the respondents oppose the proposal to ban Fox News from Canadian cable packages, with some noting that Carlson, frequently cited in the letter, no longer works for the network.
Carlson, who joined Fox News in 2009 as a contributor, abruptly left the organization in late April. His eponymous show, Tucker Carlson Tonight" unceremoniously ended April 21 after airing since 2016.
The CRTC's public consultation process also comes after Fox News settled a defamation suit for US$787 million with voting machine company Dominion Voting Systems, which accused the network of peddling lies about the 2020 presidential election.
The case, which abruptly ended just as opening statements were set to begin, embarrassed the organization over several months and raised the possibility that founder Rupert Murdoch and the network's hosts would have to testify publicly.
Joshua Chong is a Toronto-based staff reporter for the Star's Express Desk. Follow him on Twitter: @joshualdwchong