I'm not surprised that politicians want to get their names in the paper, or that you want get your face on air, and I'm not surprised if the Prime Minister wants to do it as well. The problem I have, particularly with the Prime Minister doing it, is that it sends a chill across the CBC. The CBC, of course, relies on government funding, to some degree, so it's a huge problem. I don't think it's his role to be in any way criticizing the public broadcaster. It's intimidating.
By the way, we all struggle for our little bit of fame on the media. The idea that people complain about it.... Well, yes, they do. I have some deep concerns about a lot of our conventional media in their policies and direction. But for the Prime Minister to be commenting on the public broadcaster I think is a grave mistake, because it puts a chill on a newsroom that perhaps more than any other demands freedom to do its job.