[mobglob-discuss] The interview CBC didn't want to do

[Bella]

THE INTERVIEW THE CBC DID NOT WANT TO DO AND THE INFORMATION THEY 
DIDN'T WANT YOU TO HEAR 

Thursday, July 3rd, 2003

This morning, Chris Shaw of NO GAMES 2010 Coalition was in a radio 
interview with CBC's The Current (guest host Laura Lynch).  Some key
excerpts (paraphrased from memory: we will supply a transcript later):

CBC: (after brief intro to NO GAMES): So what are you going to do now
that the Olympics have been awarded to Vancouver?

Shaw: Actually, I'd rather talk about the incredible lack of curiosity
of the CBC in the opposition movement and about the reasons why this
might have been so. Of all the media, CBC was probably the worst in its
coverage of the opposition.

CBC: Well, we're talking to you now.

Shaw: After the fact, now that the Games have been awarded.  It would
have served Canadians and British Columbians far better if we had had
this discussion weeks or months ago.  Perhaps we could discuss what
interests the CBC served by not doing so until now?

CBC: We only want to talk about what your organization does now. (the
interview went on with Shaw raising the issues of NG2010 future 
watchdog roles, etc.)

Here is where we had hoped to take the interview and this direction was

in line with that discussed on Wednesday July 2 with the associate
producer of the show.

Some information that reveals why CBC chose not to do the interview 
promised:

The Heiberg conflict of interest issue and how it ties to the Bid:

1. Heiberg is former chair of Aker Kvaener (AK), a major
Anglo-Norwegian oil and gas exploration company.  Heiberg was
responsible for appointing the entire current board of AK. AK has a
$400 million contract with Husky Energy of Canada, a Li Ka Shing owned
company whose board of director members include members of the
Vancouver Olympic Bid Corp (Stanley Kwok and others).

2. Heiberg is also a director of Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS). PGS also

has major contracts with Husky.

3. Heiberg had a private meeting with Prime Minister Jean Chretien
during his 'technical team' visit to Whistler in March.  In May, AK
received a $300 million contract from TotalfinaElf, a European gas
company.

4. TotalfinaElf is owned by Power Corp of Canada whose CEO is Paul 
Desmarais. His son Andre, Chretien's son-in-law, sits as director of 
TotalfinaElf.




How is this related to CBC?

1. CBC provided the weakest coverage of any media in dealing with the 
opposition to the Bid. Case in point: The Heiberg story ran in all 
European media from Saturday/Sunday last week until Tuesday this week.
The story was repeated in the Associated Press, various US papers (LA
Times, Boston Globe, NY Times, etc).  CBC did not report the story at
all until Tuesday night, then only in passing.

2. The CBC has the Canadian television rights to the 2010 Games.

3. The CBC's current Chair, Carole Taylor, like Gerhard Heiberg wears a

number of hats.  Key among these are: 

Director, HSBC (Bank) North America, HSBC Holdings, HSBC Bank (USA):
HSBC is controlled by Li Ka Shing.

Director, Fairmont Hotels: another Li Ka Shing holding.

Director and co-chair, Vancouver Board of Trade: VBT gave $1 million to

the Bid Corp.

Ms Taylor was also the chair of Canada Ports Corp (appointed by Prime 
Minister Chretien) in which role she oversaw the privatization of the
port system.  Vancouver's port is controlled by COSCO, the shipping
company owned by Li Ka Shing.

For those of you who may have thought/hoped that CBC was more
independent of corporate or political interests and manipulation than
other Canadian or American media, think again. At least with Izzy
Asper, we know what to expect...


For NO GAMES 2010 Coalition
Chris Shaw
csshawlab at hotmail.com



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