The CRTC is considering banning American conservative television channel Fox News from Canadian cable packages following a complaint from the government funded trans rights group Egale Canada.
The regulatory agency opened Part 1 of proceedings on the banning of Fox News on Wednesday, and people can now submit comments on the matter.
Egale Canada, which describes itself as “Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues,” called for the banning of Fox News in April after then prime time host Tucker Carlson called out their response to the Nashville school shooting.
The organization claimed in an open letter that Carlson made “false and horrifying claims about 2STNBGN people” and called for “a serious Canadian conversation about the broadcasting of Fox News in Canada” amid “rising levels of anti-trans hate around the world.”
Carlson has since left Fox News. However, Egale Canada says it still wants to see the channel removed.
Spokesperson Jennifer Boyce told True North, “Egale Canada is pleased to see the CRTC open Part 1 into the removal of Fox News from Canadian distribution. The issue of Fox News inciting hate, violence, and discrimination in its programming extends beyond one individual.”
As previously reported by True North, Egale receives millions of dollars in funding from the federal and provincial governments.
The Government of Canada says it committed over $5 million dollars worth of grants and contributions for Egale Canada last year, including $3,618,090 over two years to “program supports to participants who have pledged to increase the diversity of their boards and senior leadership”, $336,310.00 over two years for “Anti-Racism, Indigenization and Faith in the 2SLGBTQI Community”, and $77,000.00 to “develop a national bilingual social media awareness campaign about conversion therapy”.
News that the CRTC is looking to ban Fox News has garnered critical reactions on Twitter, including from renowned Canadian author and psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson, Concordia scholar Gad Saad and Conservative MP Ryan Williams.
The CRTC previously banned Russia Today and RT France from Canadian cable in March 2022, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Canadians wishing to submit comments to the CRTC on whether or not Fox News should be banned have until June 2 to do so.
Fox News did not return True North’s request for comment in time for publication.
