Michael Arpin, Vice Chair for Broadcasting of the CRTC, writes in The Globe and Mail:
John Doyle (Michel Arpin, You Need To Explain - And Apologize - Review, Jan. 22) quotes an answer I gave to Playback magazine, where I said: "I'm a news and documentary consumer. I'm not that interested in televised fiction or even feature films. I would prefer to read a novel."
As far as the quote is concerned, you must appreciate that the interviewer had asked me to name my favourite show; I felt it was inappropriate to do so, given my position with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission as vice-chairman in charge of broadcasting. Rest assured that, throughout the year, I watch all types of television news and documentaries, as well as drama or feature films.
(Via
DMc.) When I wrote to Konrad von Finkenstein, he forwarded my email to Mr. Arpin, who wrote the exact same thing back to me, and everyone else who wrote.
C'mon. Seriously. How dumb do you think we are? Had Mr. Arpin wished to avoid picking favorites, he could have said, "Oh, goodness, I love all our children equally the same." But he didn't. He said "I'd prefer to read a novel."
It is a mark of how little respect Mr. Arpin holds the showbiz community that he doesn't even try to come up with a convincing lie, such as, "I promise to watch at least a dozen hours of Canadian drama this year."
Mr. Ignatieff, your coalition is waiting.
Labels: Canadian politics