May 04, 2010
CBC ‘neutral’ pollster urges Liberals to start a ‘Culture War’
The Conservatives had asked that CBC clarify why they choose to continue to use Frank Graves, a Liberal-supporting and self-described "progressive" as the network’s "neutral" pollster on party politics.
It was the same ‘neutral’ Frank Graves who recently advised the Liberal Party to start a “culture war” designed to divide Canadians - East against West, young against old, urban Canada against rural Canada. His advice is also ideologically consistent with the world view of the Liberals, Bloc Québécois and NDP. By voting against the Conservative’s motion in Committee, the opposition parties are endorsing Graves' call for a "Culture War".
It is simply baffling that the CBC cannot understand - or chooses not to understand - that employing a partisan Liberal as a national pollster on party politics renders it impossible to actually obtain unbiased results. The CBC's dismissal of the Conservative Party's complaint concerning Frank Graves' clear and obvious conflict-of-interest reflects poorly on Canada's national public broadcaster. Each and every time Liberal partisan Graves appears on the CBC as the network's neutral pollster on party politics the network's credibility will be further diminished.
The CBC failed to assure Canadians that it has taken any safeguards to prevent its proprietary data from being relied upon for partisan purposes. The public broadcaster is spending the public's money, not Liberal Party money. Yet it makes no mention of any contract clause that expressly prohibits CBC polling from being used, directly or indirectly, to shape Liberal strategy.
Make no mistake, our Conservative Government will continue to challenge Frank Graves' credibility as a supposed neutral pollster on party politics.
If the CBC is serious about reversing its declining status and influence within the Canadian population we recommend that they re-consider their position. At the very least Mr. Graves' partisanship should be disclosed to viewers each and every time he appears on-air.
Leon Benoit MP
