CBSC Ontario Council Announces That Radio Station Breached Industry’s Code Of Ethics

Ottawa, June 21, 1993 – The Ontario Regional Council of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) unanimously decided that the Ed Needham Show aired on Toronto’s CFRB on January 6, 1993 breached two clauses of one of the industry’s own codes. This is the second decision to be released by the Ontario Regional Council regarding CFRB in the week.

According to the regional council in its (attached) decision, the host made abusive and discriminatory comments with regard to women. Thus, the regional council decided that the station contravened the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics, clause 2, which states that broadcasters should ensure that their programming contains no abusive or discriminatory comments based on matters of sex. The regional council also felt that the host’s treatment of the issue displayed a lack of sensitivity to problems related to sex-role stereotyping, and that therefore, the station also contravened the Code of Ethics, clause 15, concerning “Sex-Role Stereotyping.”

Both the public and broadcasters are represented equally on the regional council. The regional council Chair, Marianne Barrie, represents the public, while Al MacKay, representing broadcasters, is the Vice-Chair. Other public representatives on the regional council are Susan Fish and Robert Stanbury. Don Luzzi and Paul Fockler represent broadcasters. All members were present for the decision.

The CBSC was established by the CAB to provide private sector broadcasters with a mechanism of self-regulation. The Council received the formal endorsement of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1991. The Council adminsters three CAB codes: the Code of Ethics, the Sex-Role Portrayal Code, and the Voluntary Code Regarding Violence on Television (currently under revision).

The full decision is attached.

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Please contact the CBSC National Chair, Mimi Fullerton, at (###) ###-#### for more information.