Comments on: Why wasn’t the debate broadcast in English?

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:15:52 +0000

Global never interrupted programming to cover the Dawson shooting.

By: Y.T.

Y.T. — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:27:11 +0000

You are right, Fagstein. At least CTV and Global have an economic motive for not serving the local community. But what excuse does CBC Montreal have for not showing the debate? What's the point of having an English public broadcaster in Quebec if it doesn't cover important things happening in Quebec? I bet every other CBC station in the country has covered every single leaders' debate that has ever happened in its respective province.

Ontario has TFO-- maybe it's time to start asking the Quebec government to start broadcasting an English version of Tele-Quebec? :)

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:29:28 +0000

But there wasn't any live coverage of these events either. In fact, the last time I can remember Montreal stations interrupting regular programming for breaking news was the Dawson shooting.

Our local television stations are local in name only.

By: wkh

wkh — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:06:10 +0000

What’s worse is that anglos with cable couldn’t watch the debate translated either. While RDI and LCN carried it live, CBC Newsworld and CTV Newsnet didn’t. What fucked up cable do you have? I have all four of those channels. Oh you mean non-French comprehending anglos couldn't watch the debate. Well fuck them. They should be in French class anyway. :-P (I am half joking). While I don't believe the leaders should have had a debate in English necessarily, I am kind of going "wtf?" at the lack of media representation on this front. I mean really, we've had fights break out, arrests, arson, this election is waaaaay more interesting than either of the two preceeding it. ;-) You'd think the media would be on the drama factor if nothing else.

By: Louis Audet Gosselin

Louis Audet Gosselin — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:21:15 +0000

I agree on the principle of having the debate broadcast by an english network, but this debate was so boring... I was very happy I could turn to This Hour has 22 Minutes, which was way more entertaining.

By: Corinthian Rick

Corinthian Rick — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:04:50 +0000

Just as long as those filthy separatists don't get in, that's all that matters.

By: Jean Naimard

Jean Naimard — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:23:19 +0000

There is no need for an english debate. The english will vote liberal no matter what! (Talk about ethnic votes!!!) So it would be wated energy for the liberal party to participate in such a thing, and a lost cause for the others.

By: Jacques Martin

Jacques Martin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:44:30 +0000

80% et plus des Anglophones et des Allophones votent pour le Parti Libéral, que le candidat soit un humain ou un animal (un cochon peint en rouge comme le veut la formule) et ils votent "Non" à un référendum, peu importe la question. Ils n'ont pas besoin de débat en anglais. S'ils ne sont pas en mesure de comprendre le contenu du débat en français ou au moins tenter de reconnaître quels sont les chefs de parti qui n'appartiennent pas au Parti Libéral, ils peuvent se passer d'un débat en anglais. On pourrait imprimer d'avance le choix (Libéral) sur les bulletins de vote de plusieurs circonscriptions québécoises tant le résultat est prévisible. Besoin d'un débat anglais ? Aucunement. Et madame Marois aura appris l'anglais pour rien, car elle croyait qu'elle s'en servirait si elle était élue Première Ministre. Et ça n'arrivera pas.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:27:26 +0000

I'm anglo and vote QS. Does this mean I'm not a real anglo?

By: BruB

BruB — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:52:21 +0000

Listening to the 3 leaders speaking in english, event a english debate would need translation to english :)

By: Dominique J-S

Dominique J-S — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:20:21 +0000

CBC news at six made a pretty big deal of covering the issue of having an English debate.

By: Fagstein

Fagstein — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:00:37 +0000

I don't have any special insight into management at CBC, CTV or Global. In any case, the reason they didn't carry the debate isn't complicated: They simply weren't part of the consortium, and they decided that it would be simpler to just summarize the debate during the evening newscasts than carry it live.

By: BruB

BruB — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:55:52 +0000

I would like to hear other englos points of view on this. I don't believe that ALL of the english community votes automatically for the Liberals, I have to think that some do vote ADQ (Action Dumont du Québec) and maybe, just maybe some lost soul may vote PQ :) Fagstein, yoU,re the one with the connections in the media. please tell us if you have any answers on why it wasn't in english. Maybe they jsut don't care who governs for them but I would like to believe that I'm wrong, I really wish I'm wrong and that the english community actually do care.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:42:35 +0000

Rebroadcasting it would have required simultaneous translation, and wouldn’t have had as much of an impact on the voters. But does that mean it’s irrelevant?

This debate was irrelevant in any language, simultaneously translated or not.

In most elections, the no English coverage thing would've bothered me, but this time... meh. I find it hard to care about anything that's happened in the campaign thus far. I suspect I am not alone.