LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR A CLIMATE DEBATE
In June, the Canadian government declared a national climate emergency. The CBC’s journalistic standards and practices state that, in a time of national emergency, the “CBC makes itself available to get important information to Canadians in a timely fashion.”
That’s why today, we’re writing to urge the CBC to host a national leaders’ debate on climate change and a Green New Deal.
When it comes to the climate emergency, “getting important information to Canadians” means not just covering the climate crisis as other emergencies are covered, but creating space for our political leaders to offer their competing visions around solutions to that emergency.
“A timely fashion” in an election season is before ballots are cast on October 21st. By hosting a federal leaders’ climate debate, the CBC can fulfill its mandate and provide a critical public service in a time of national emergency.
Media organizations around the globe are engaged in an unprecedented reflection on how they cover climate change. Whether it’s the BBC, the Guardian, Toronto Star or even the Columbia Journalism Review, media are digging deep to find new and innovative ways to ensure people have the information they need about the climate crisis. The CBC has taken admirable steps – like the In Your Backyard series – but national broadcasters with the public responsibility of the CBC need to do more. You need to host a federal leaders’ climate debate.
Voters in Canada understand the importance of this issue. Polls throughout 2019 constantly put climate among the top ballot box issues. Every major federal party is making climate pledges, and by hosting a climate debate, the CBC can do its job and ensure that voters have all the information they need to make a decision this October.
Fires, floods, and rising temperatures are already ravaging communities. Climate change is a threat to people and the planet. We all have a role to play in responding to this threat, including the CBC. We hope you’ll take this letter to heart and announce plans to host a federal leaders’ climate debate with the urgency this crisis demands.
Senator Murray Sinclair – Retired Judge & Chair of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission
Naomi Klein – Journalist & author
Niigaan James Sinclair – Associate Professor, Dept. of Native Studies, University of Manitoba, Journalist, Author
Hayden King – Executive Director of the Yellowhead Institute
Bill McKibben – Author
Ellen Gabriel – Mohawk activist & artist
Melina Laboucan-Massimo – Activist, solar entrepreneur, artist & television host
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip – President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)
Chief Don Tom – Union UBCIC Executive Committee
Chief Kukpi7 Judy Wilson UBCIC Executive Committee
Tantoo Cardinal – Actor
Eriel Deranger – Executive Director of Indigenous Climate Action
Margaret Atwood – Author
Jesse Wente Executive Director, Indigenous Screen Office
Sarain Fox – Artist – Activist – TV Host
Yann Martel – Author
Stephen Lewis – Former politician and diplomat
Clayton Thomas-Muller – Author, activist & documentary filmmaker
Avi Lewis – former CBC host & documentary filmmaker
Carole Dupuis — Spokesperson, Mouvement écocitoyen UNEplanète
Cathy Orlando — National Director, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada
Tim Gray —
Environmental DefenceIan Stephen — Program Director, The WaterWealth Project
Kathy Small —
Glasswaters FoundationLucy Cummings —
Faith & the Common GoodSvenn Biggs — Climate and Energy Campaigner, Stand.Earth
Stephen Thomas — Energy Campaign Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
Guy Dauncey — President, Yellow Point Ecological Society
Climate Justice Saskatoon
Peter McCartney — Climate Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
Alex Speers-Roesch — Greenpeace Canada, Head of Climate Campaign
Karen Wristen — Executive Director, Living Oceans Society
Rosemary Neaves — Chair, Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca
The federal election is around the corner. The CBC needs to host a leaders’ debate on climate change and the only real solution to this crisis: a Green New Deal for Canada.
The CBC’s journalistic standards and practices state that it’s their responsibility, in the event of a national emergency, to provide important and timely information to the people. On June 19th, Canada declared a state of climate emergency and since then, we’ve seen wildfires, drought and extreme heat across the country. The best way for the CBC to respond to this emergency is to host a federal leaders debate on climate.
As the CBC’s senior management, you have the power to make this debate happen. People are calling on you to step up, tell the truth, and make sure we have the information we need to elect a government that will deal with the climate crisis.