Speaking of Media Bias...

Remember back in May, Stephen Harper had a major temper tantrum over the Parliamentary Press Corps?

On CBC's As It Happens tonight, I learned that the first cracks in the Press Corps solidarity have emerged - in the form of CanWest Global's people being ordered to put themselves on "Harper's List of Approved Questioners" (any resemblance to Ko Ko's "Little List" in The Mikado is purely coincidental, I'm sure...).

My first thought was a "WTF?". This doesn't make sense. Then the interviewee mentioned that the new Chairman of the Board at Canwest happens to be one of Harper's friends. A quick dig through Canwest's corporate website turned up this little gem which announces that Derek H. Burney was taking over the Chairman's role in CanWest Global.

Okay, who the hell is Derek Burney in the first place? It turns out that he has roots in politics that date back to Mr. Mulroney's government. As for being close to Stephen Harper, well, I'd say that heading up Harper's transition team is plenty cozy a relationship.

So, if that doesn't speak to someone attempting to control the media in a Ralph Klein style, I don't know what does. Days after assuming the Chairmanship of Canwest Global, the Canwest members of the Parliamentary Press Corps are suddenly ordered to sign up on Harper's little list of "known to be safe" questioners. (We all know the kind - they don't dare ask a hardball question for fear of being struck from the list - much like a backbench MLA in Alberta doesn't ask too many pointy questions of Cabinet if they wish to advance beyond the back benches).

Now, what was that I keep hearing about the "Liberal biased media", again?

It's beginning to look like a good time in Canada to start up a Canadian version of Alternet.