Leveson creates "favourable background conditions" to address Canadian media scheme
21 Jun, 2012, 02:41 BST
TORONTO, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
A former Canadian broadcasting industry insider, who is alleging a long-term case of systemic corruption involving several media companies and Canada's federal broadcasting regulator, attributes the Leveson Inquiry with creating "favourable background conditions" for him to publicly address a media company subsidy scheme that has cost citizens more than $C 1.2 billion.
Keith Mahar has requested the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage permit him to testify about the governance issue involving officials at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). He has already provided copies of several related documents to the parliamentary committee, including a copy of a letter from his legal counsel Paul Armarego to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, dated 31 May 2010.
A copy of this letter is posted on http://www.keithmahar.com.
Prime Minister Harper was notified by Armarego that the CRTC enacted an unprecedented subordinate law, one effectively granting media proprietors the right to overcharge millions of consumers for cable television service and redistribute wealth to themselves, without the requirement of any work being done in return for the revenue.
Mahar was formerly employed by CHUM Limited for his specialist knowledge of the cable television industry and its regulation by the CRTC. As a result of his opposition to this scheme, MP Libby Davies asked questions about citizens being overcharged for cable television service by more than $C 1.2 billion in the House of Commons on 8 February 2008. It is Mahar's assertion that the Hon. Jim Abbott misled Parliament in response.
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SOURCE Public Interest Advocate (Australia)