Evidence of meeting #94 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10 a.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Thank you.
We have a speaking list. Hopefully, we can get through most of it, if not all of it, before the hard stop at 10:15.
We have Mrs. Thomas continuing. Then we have Mr. Melillo, Mr. Julian, Mr. Coteau, Mr. Noormohamed and Ms. Hepfner on the speaking list.
Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
The point is simple. The CBC itself said that to call Hamas terrorists was to take sides. If they're not going to call Hamas a terrorist organization, are they not left taking a side still?
10:05 a.m.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
I would remind you that the allegations that Ms. Thomas is currently making are extremely serious.
As Mr. Julian pointed out earlier, there are journalists on the ground. To suggest that journalists at Radio‑Canada, CBC or any media outlet are biased towards terrorists threatens their safety on the ground and undermines their integrity. These comments are serious and have far-reaching effects.
I am asking Ms. Thomas to retract her remarks, to withdraw them and to choose her words better because we are spreading serious misinformation that can seriously harm journalists who are doing their work on the ground.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Thank you, Mr. Champoux.
Mrs. Thomas, continue, if you don't mind.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, you do need to ask Mrs. Thomas to retract what are serious allegations that put the lives of journalists, who are already in incredibly dangerous situations, in peril. These are not comments that can be excused. We can't turn the page. She has made unbelievably horrific allegations. She needs to retract. She needs to apologize.
I would suggest, Mr. Chair, that you have the power from this committee to go to someone else so that she cannot—
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I would ask for her to apologize to all the journalists she has just put in incredible danger.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I have the article in front of me. I'd be happy to read it into the record in its entirety. I believe if I were to do so, it would show that the CBC did in fact take information—
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
—directly from Hamas, and put it out to the Canadian public—
10:05 a.m.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Well, I think Mrs. Thomas has now spoken for herself. She's not retracting her statement, so she's not taking you up on the offer to apologize to the committee, or, more importantly, to journalists. This is now not only repetitive; this is inflammatory. The consequences of these types of comments....
Mr. Chair, I would ask you, as the chair of this committee today, to take very seriously what Mr. Champoux, Mr. Julian and I and others in this committee are saying and feeling. This is a very, very serious line of misinformation that Mrs. Thomas has chosen to peddle to get clips. This is not what this committee should be about. People's lives are literally hanging in the balance over every word people are saying, not just abroad but also in this country.
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Chair, I would ask that you give the next person on the list the ability to speak.
Could you rule on that, please?
10:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Mrs. Thomas, are you just about ready to wrap up? I do have Mr. Melillo and Mr. Julian next on the list.
10:05 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Chair, I'm not asking you....
She has not retracted. She has not apologized. She has made incendiary allegations against journalists. I would ask that you give the speaking role to the next person, and if you rule to the contrary, I'm prepared to move the appropriate challenge to your ruling.