CBC faces accusations of shifting expenses to hide money from access requests

By Perry Hoffman

OTTAWA - Appearing at a Parliamentary committee earlier today to talk about the impact of the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision granting the Information Commissioner access to certain CBC/Radio-Canada documents, the national public broadcaster instead found itself having to defend its accountability and transparency practices. While the House of Commons Standing Commission on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics began in a rather cordial manner with Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro lauding the CBC for releasing information regarding money spent on its fleet of vehicles, the mood changed when he seemed to accuse the corporation of hiding hospitality and entertainment...