CBC called out by Conservative Canadian Heritage Critic for 'being on the side of terrorists'

MP Rachael Thomas (CPC, Conservative Party of Canada-Lethbridge), the Conservative critic for Canadian Heritage, said recently that the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) is "on the side of terrorists" because the state broadcaster ordered its journalists to not label Hamas forces as "terrorists" in an internal memo that was leaked on the opening weekend of Hamas' invasion of Israel.

Thomas made the accusation at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, and refused to retract her comments after Members of Parliament from both the Liberal government and other opposition parties attacked her over her choice of words.

"For the CBC to make this decision is absolutely irresponsible, and it is to peddle disinformation. And it is to be on the side of Hamas, which is to be on the side of terrorists, which is to be against the Jewish population, which is wrong," said Thomas.

MP Martin Champoux (BQ-Drummond) suggested Thomas was endangering the lives of CBC reporters who are in-theater covering the war. "To suggest that reporters from Radio-Canada, CBC or any other media are taking the side of terrorists is an attack on their security, an attack to their integrity, and these are statements that are very serious, and could have very serious implications," he said.

"I'm asking Ms. Thomas to retract and to withdraw her statement."

Thomas said she had no intention of doing so.

"The point is simple. The CBC itself said that to call Hamas terrorists was to take sides. So if they're not going to call Hamas a terrorist organization, are they not left taking a side still?"

New Democratic Party House Leader Peter Julian called Thomas' words "unbelievably horrific allegations" and "not comments that can be excused."

Taleeb Noormohamed (Liberal-Vancouver Granville), who is parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, said Thomas' criticism of CBC would somehow "foment a remarkable amount of discord in communities where we already have a lot of anxiety. It is not helpful … and it is extremely dangerous."

Thomas posted her response to the criticism, saying "When the CBC receives $1.4 billion in taxpayer $$$ every year and spreads disinformation by Hamas, I will not stay silent. Pro-Censorship NDP tried to shut me up. The CBC must apologize."