Nick Fillmore

In Greenspon report, corporate media blames everything but itself

Media Watch — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 23:48:56 +0000

What a difference some 50 years has made in one of Canada's most important and powerful industries!

Back in 1970, the Senate of Canada called an inquiry to investigate the exorbitant profits made by Canada's handful of media barons.

Skinflint media mogul Roy Thomson had declared that owning a radio or television station was like having a license to print money. He added that owning a newspaper was even better, because a license was not required.

You probably don't know that you own billions of dollars in coal stocks

the views expressed — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:25:24 +0000

Sometimes huge issues just slide along under the radar until, all of a sudden, they blow up. The shock can come from a brown envelope slid under a door, a "scoop" in the media, or an opposition politician discovering a serious failure in government.

I'm waiting for an explosion to occur at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. This organization has assets of $287 billion and provides pensions for the 19 million Canadians who pay into it.

Young activists cut their teeth with Ottawa arrests as they gear up for national pipeline fight

the views expressed — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:49:49 +0000

Ninety-nine young environmental activists achieved their goal on Parliament Hill on Monday by carrying out acts of civil disobedience. The boisterous group climbed over restricted-area police barricades near the Peace Tower.

"Climate Leaders Don't Build Pipelines," said a giant banner.

Protesting the possible construction of the Alberta-to-B.C. Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, the 99 were arrested and taken to a police station. They were issued citations and told not to appear on Parliament Hill for three months.

None of those arrested saw the dark and damp insides of a jail cell. They will not have criminal records.

Stephen Harper ready to cash in with controversial legal firm that hired Newt Gingrich, Jean Chretien

the views expressed — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 16:54:49 +0000

Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper apparently isn't satisfied with having destroyed a lot of wonderful and important things in Canada. Now he has signed on with Dentons, the world's largest elite law firm, to spread his viewpoints around the globe.

Dentons proudly announced Monday that Harper -- who does not have a legal degree -- and his new consulting company will work from its Calgary office.

For Harper, the appointment is his reward from the corporate set for many years of stalwart service. He will now be able to stuff his pockets with greenbacks and 76-cent Canadian dollars.

After Mansbridge, does the CBC have the courage to build a truly great news program?

Media Watch — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 21:13:12 +0000

The latest watercooler chat among many Canadians this week is speculation about who will replace Peter Mansbridge as host of The National. Mansbridge announced earlier this week that after 30 years as host of CBC-TV's flagship news program he will step down next year on Canada Day.

Now CBC executives say they are going to usher in "the next phase" of The National.

Olympic groups squandering millions while athletes struggle to get to Rio

the views expressed — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 17:03:49 +0000

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Dozens of athletes from Canada and thousands from developing countries have had a difficult time raising the money needed to train and take part in the Olympics Games in Brazil.

World Social Forum urged to adopt new strategy to confront neoliberalism

the views expressed — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:45:48 +0000

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The annual gathering of the World Social Forum (WSF) -- the left's response to the elitist annual Davos World Economic Forum -- is in session in Montreal starting today until Sunday, August 14 with several thousand people from dozens of countries attending.

Mainstream media sucked in, reports whatever politicians or GM say

Media Watch — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:48:17 +0000

All the big newspapers and TV networks breathlessly reported word for word what they were told at a joint political-General Motors newser.

The Globe and Mail:

"For decades, the splashy, job-creating announcements in the auto sector in Canada have been about manufacturing jobs.

The psychological cost of climate change

the views expressed — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 21:50:23 +0000

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About three years ago I decided to devote a lot of time to writing about the threat of climate change. I felt then -- and feel now -- that the planet is going to be in one hell of a worse mess in a few years unless we take action on a scale never seen before concerning any other threat in history.

After 40 years of protesting Kissinger, it might be time for some new tactics

the views expressed — Mon, 30 May 2016 19:13:08 +0000

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One afternoon last week I took part in a protest against former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres being allowed into Canada. Both spoke at a Simon Wiesenthal Centre fundraiser deep inside the bowels of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Recalling the greats of journalism: From Walter Stewart, to Amy Goodman, to the phony Dan Rather

Media Watch — Thu, 26 May 2016 19:11:54 +0000

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Over the years I've been fortunate enough to hear some of North America's top investigative journalists speak.

Corporate media isn't reporting on climate change. And it's killing us

the views expressed — Thu, 19 May 2016 18:00:36 +0000

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Our aging newspapers and private TV networks are doing little to inform Canadians in a meaningful way about the dramatic changes in the climate that are already altering life in this country.

Trudeau's uneven response to Fort McMurray and Attawapiskat shows tale of two cities

the views expressed — Wed, 11 May 2016 17:46:22 +0000

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Two Canadian communities are in desperate crisis -- the terrifying wildfires that destroyed Fort McMurray, and the epidemic of attempted youth suicides on the Attawapiskat First Nations reserve.

The question arises: Why are billions of dollars being pumped in to deal with one crisis while the other is all but being ignored?

Will Justin Trudeau be remembered as the man who saved Canada or the Prince of Selfies?

the views expressed — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 19:05:25 +0000

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By not telling Canadians the truth about the government's almost certain inability to control future carbon emissions, Justin Trudeau is guilty of downplaying the greatest issue ever to face the country and the world -- an issue that will have dire consequences for our children and grandchildren.

Canadians need to plan now to fund and develop dependable media for the future

Media Watch — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:57:53 +0000

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Canada's mainstream media are in a state of incipient meltdown. They no longer deliver the volume or quality of news that Canadians need to be informed about important happenings in their communities, let alone to participate in a healthy democratic process.

The corporations that own traditional newspapers, seeing their revenues and readership dissolve, have opted to cut jobs and slash the content that used to provide their product's value.