Letter from FRIENDS Supporter to CBC re Termination of Don Hill

Re: Why CBC has serious problems

Dear Robert Rabinovitch, Jane Chalmers, and Don Orchard:

The senior management of CBC responsible for CBC in Alberta has some very serious problems, and the recent handling of them has become an embarrassment.

The problems are basically twofold. First of all, no one believes what little is said from CBC about the termination of Don Hill from his position as host of CBC's Wild Rose Forum in Alberta. Secondly and most importantly, there is enormous opposition to Don Hill's termination from that program.

Consider first, the fact that few believe what little CBC is saying. I haven't seen any response from senior management to the enormous outpouring of rage about Don Hill's termination. Management at CBC is silent. That is not what I expect from responsible management at our public broadcasting corporation.

People aren't believing even the few remarks from the local spokesperson, Blane Hogue. He says that this was purely a matter of efficiency to declare Don Hill "redundant". This doesn't explain the suddenness of Mr. Hill's removal after his third program on Enron and deregulation.

Like many, Graham Hicks of the Edmonton Sun (March 9, 2005) doesn't believe the efficiency excuse. Mr. Hill provided an amazing service without any help. Don Hill's salary was the only cost. And as many have noted, Mr. Hill's termination was after CBC received $60 million for regional broadcasting. No one seems to find the "efficiency" claim plausible, especially in the light of this important public forum being decimated.

Amy Steele (of Fast Forward, in Calgary, March 10 - 16, 2005) doesn't believe the additional remark from Mr. Hogue that it is a case of CBC periodically "freshening" its programming. Don Hill's program was unique in being "fresh". Elsewhere, Mr. Hogue claims that the CBC is "never subject to political, government or corporate pressure", which is an astounding claim to make. He apparently wants to claim that CBC is never influenced by outside pressures, which also raises questions.

Basically, people aren't believing CBC. Don Hill was gutsy, critical, and explicit about power and interests. He is the only media person in Alberta who raises sensitive issues. And the qualities and nature of his program have nothing to do with the decision? People find that difficult to believe, especially when so many people think that his program was so crucial for public debate and good government.

That then brings me to the second problem senior management has. Don Hill's Wild Rose Forum served a crucial role in our local and regional democratic community, and CBC has now terminated him from that program. The outrage from the grassroots listeners has been resounding. Over and over again, people note that Don Hill's Wild Rose Forum provided a venue for democratic debate about issues of public interest and public concern. It was an important medium of free speech for democratic governance.

Don Hill was the heart and soul of public radio for people and organizations throughout Alberta. The National Farmers Union in Alberta, for example, expresses its "concern with the untimely, and apparently politically motivated, firing of Mr. Don Hill." He took up issues with "important implications for the rural community". People from across the province, from rural communities and urban centres alike, are outraged.

Don Hill did not have an ordinary 'talk show'. It was not an occasion for venting opinions but a forum for public debate and dialogue. Don Hill is widely respected as an excellent investigative journalist who engaged people in public discourse. Many people arranged their day around his important and interesting program.

By decimating the one bit of public discourse in Alberta that gave substance to public broadcasting here, senior management has gutted the system. In doing so CBC has also alienated most of those who have been strong advocates of public broadcasting. Why would CBC spurn its friends in such a way? CBC is losing the support of an important and loyal following in Alberta.

CBC's only hope is to make just as sudden a reversal to reinstate Don Hill. The mistakes have been enormous, but they can be corrected. I ask that CBC return to the strength of its roots. Most of CBC's avid supporters depended on Don Hill's Wild Rose Forum. I am among those loyal supporters who have been devastated by CBC's actions.

The movement demanding Don Hill's reinstatement is growing.

Sincerely,

Robert Ware, D.Phil., Professor Emeritus
Dept. of Philosophy
Univ. of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta