OTTAWA – Political criticism made during a public affairs program on V did not breach any broadcast codes, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) has determined.
The CBSC reviewed the October 20, 2011 episode of Dumont, a political discussion program hosted by Mario Dumont. Dumont and his guest Martin Pelletier talked about the upcoming Liberal Party convention. Pelletier characterized Liberal supporters as [translations] “lobotomized”, “brainless idiots” and “losers”. Dumont pointed out that people are entitled to their political opinions and suggested that people vote Liberal because they fear Quebec separation, and Pelletier responded to that suggestion with [translation] “Immigrants, Anglos and people on life support”.
A listener complained that Pelletier had labelled immigrants, Anglophones and the elderly as lobotomized, brainless idiots and losers, and that such “racist opinions” should not be broadcast.
The CBSC Quebec Panel members disagreed on whether Pelletier’s two comments were in fact linked, but, either way, they all concluded that the comments were not abusive or unduly discriminatory on the basis of nationality, ethnicity or age under the Human Rights Clauses of the CAB Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code. The Panel considered the statements legitimate expressions of opinion on a political topic.
