TOP LOBBYIST COLLECTING CHEQUES FOR ODA FUNDRAISER: Fundraiser Comes on Eve of Crucial Regulatory Review for Television

Charlie Angus (NDP Heritage Critic) is demanding to know why Heritage Minister Bev Oda is relying on a lobbyist from the broadcast industry to help organize a Conservative fundraising event. Charlotte Bell, the head of regulatory affairs for Canwest Global is Oda’s lead hand on a fundraising event slated for Wednesday, November 15^th in Toronto. Bell is also the point person for lobbying government over potentially substantial regulatory changes that are underway.

In the House today, Angus challenged Oda over the fundraiser. “We have an industry lobbyist picking up the cheques for the Minister. This lobbyist is also a key player pushing for major regulatory changes to television licenses. The regulatory review begins in 2 weeks. The cash grab happens next week. The question is why is this Minister using her office to sell political access for political cash?”

On November 27^th, the CRTC is beginning a review of television licenses. Angus says he doesn’t buy the government argument that the review is arms length.

“The Minister knows damned well that television, broadcast, telecom—they’re all up for grabs. And Charlotte Bell is right in the heart of the action. The message is clear, you want access to the Minister, you get out and hustle for her political machine.”

Angus says he is particularly disturbed that Oda’s fundraiser features access to Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, an avowed champion of telecom deregulation.

“When it comes to fighting for cultural policy in this country, Bev Oda has been an absentee landlord. Meanwhile fundamental changes to broadcast and telecom are being discussed. It’s clear that the people with the inside track are the lobbyists who are raising cash for Oda’s political machine.”

At recent hearings, Angus cross-examined outgoing CRTC President Charles Dauphin about the supposed arms-length relationship between government ministers and the CRTC. During that hearing, Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Assistant to Bev Oda stated clearly: “The CRTC takes direction from the government, from the Minister….and the commission reports to Parliament through the Minister of Heritage. That’s the way it is.”