In defence of freedom of speech: disability activist
by Barbara Anello

The Canadian Radio - Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decided yesterday to pull the license of Quebec City's most popular radio station, CHOI FM because morning hosts, Jeff Fillion and André Arthur, repeatedly offended "Canadian values".

This is the first time the CRTC has revoked a license for the conduct of radio hosts.

Jeff Fillion, the morning host of CHOI FM had the following to say about a psychiatric patient: "Why don't they just pull the plug on him? He doesn't deserve to live. The guy's a freaking burden on society."

Mr. Fillion has also been quoted making sexist comments about a TV weather announcer's "incredible set of boobs", adding that "the size of the brain is not directly proportional to the size of the bra."

While I find Mr Fillion's comments to be highly inflammatory and vulgar, I find it more disturbing, that in spite of such behaviour, the popular radio station's ratings have steadily increased.

What does that say about the station's 300,000 audience who tune in to hear the sexist, racist, vulgar, slanderous, and crude commentary of the Quebecois versions of Howard Stern?

Let's connect the dots in this "shock - radio" picture. Fillion and Arthur make outrageous comments because their audience respond with the desired outcome they seek - they tune in. When the audience tunes in, ratings go up. When ratings go up, so does the station's advertising revenue and hence the radio jocks' earning power and marketability.

And that has made the station owner, Patrice Demers, a much richer man. Margaret Wente of the Globe and Mail reports that the radio station purchased 8 years ago by Demers for $2 million is now worth $22 million and employs 35 people..

The station owner will appeal the CRTC ruling to prevent the station's closure on August 31, 2004.

My personal perspective is that I do not believe that the CRTC should put the station out of business which would also put 35 people out of work.

Such a precedent by CRTC would surely erode freedom of expression as surely as it would erode the very mechanisms available to Canadians for recourse whenever it is perceived that speech has turned to hate.

While neither Mr. Fillion's nor Mr. Arthur's brand of radio appeal to me, I would nevertheless defend their right to free speech, while holding my nose.

Inciting violence and hatred against a particular group or community is one thing, but pervasive insults and ridicule of particular groups is another kettle of fish.

If Canadians truly want something to be outraged over, they may want to focus attention on the widespread poverty in Canada, the criminalization and the feminization of poverty, along with Violence against Women rather than the offensive insults uttered by a pair of moronic radio jocks.

Obviously my opinion will offend many of my friends and colleagues, but that happens in a free and democratic society. In Canada we have the right to express a differing point of view as much as we have the freedom to offend.

There are mechanisms for anyone sufficiently disturbed by Mr. Fillion's comments to respond. Ignore it, boycott the advertisers, lobby for stiff fines for abusive commentary but don't ban free speech. That's what happens in China folks.

At the end of the day, it's my view that the CRTC, an unelected body, is not the appropriate body to determine what constitutes "acceptable Canadian values" -- that's a job for Canadians and our elected representatives.

Barbara Anello
anello@vianet.ca