Is the Knowledge Network about to become a cog in the Campbell administration's spin machine?
Thanks to a recent provincial government order, New Democrat advanced education and labour market development critic Dawn Black is worried it might.
But an administration spokesperson has said that's not the case, pointing out the network's broadcast license requires its programming be independent.
At issue: in January, the ministry of advanced education and labour market development instructed the network to run programming "focusing on the challenges facing the province."
That order was delivered in a new letter of expectations outlining the relationship between the government and the network.
But the challenges listed in that letter didn't include child poverty, homelessness or many of the other social problems troubling British Columbia.
Instead, the government wants to see programming on "healthcare sustainability," "seniors demographic shifts" and "economic issues," as well as "Asian trade and cultural awareness," "First Nations communities, culture and issues" and the "challenges facing the environment" - four carry-overs from a similar 2009 list.
And it's requiring the network to report back to the ministry on the results of that work.
But it just so happens those challenges mirror the government's policy agenda, which includes making health services more sustainable, diversifying the province's economic ties with Asia, developing a New Relationship with First Nations people and maximizing British Columbia's potential as a "global leader in climate action."
"A strange or a planned coincidence?" wondered Black. "It's even using government language, I think, Liberal government language in terms of identifying the priorities that they're asking the Knowledge Network to look at."
As a result, Black said the letter of expectations "raises some questions around the independence" of the Knowledge Network.
But a government spokesperson stated neither the Campbell administration nor the ministry "are interested in directing content. What we are asking is that these issues be raised in the public forum that the Knowledge Network offers."
As for the list provided to the network, the spokesperson explained it wasn't meant to "exhaustive" but instead "draw attention to some very serious and broad questions."
Sneaky previews
With its poll numbers plummeting, the Campbell administration has moved to keep a closer eye on the records being released by Crown corporations in response to freedom of information requests. And that's "not a good sign" for British Columbians concerned about openness and transparency in government, according to one of the province's leading freedom of information advocates.
Those requests - which are used by reporters and opposition politicians to find out what officials aren't telling British Columbians - can often lead to damaging stories about the government.
But the province has now ordered the Crowns to notify them about those records before they're made public. And that order has Vincent Gogolek, the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association's policy and communications director, worried.
"What the government seems to be putting forward here is, 'We have a right to look at this stuff and put together whatever communications plans we want.' And - reading between the lines - you can see how they would be tempted to say, 'Do you really think we have to release this,'" Gogolek stated.
But an administration spokesperson noted the order only requires a Crown corporation "to advise [the government] of an upcoming release and does not, by itself require the contents to be provided to the ministry."
As for why that requirement has been put in place, the spokesperson stated it will allow ministries to "better coordinate any required central government release of information with that released by Crown corporations."
Sean Holman is editor of the online provincial political news journal Public Eye (publiceyeonline.com). He can be reached at [email protected].
