CBC WILL NOT ATTEND G-G SWEARING IN

Broadcaster bows to fears of picketing by locked- out staff

OTTAWA • The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said yesterday it would have no presence on Parliament Hill during the swearingof the new Governor-General on Sept. 27, a decision that should eliminate concerns lockedout CBC workers would picket the event.

Several party leaders, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, have said they would not cross a picket line, creating fears that the ceremony to swear-in Michäelle Jean would be disrupted by a picket from some of the 5,550 CBC workers who have been locked-out since mid-August.

“Out of respect for the Canadian public, the office of the Governor General and the ceremony itself, CBC/Radio-Canada felt that this was the most appropriate decision,” the CBC said in a statement. The broadcaster will have no news crews or resources on the Hill, it said.

It remains unclear whether the public broadcaster will attempt to cover other events in Ottawa, such as the reopening of Parliament on Sept. 26.

If it does, and if the Canadian Media Guild members picket, it appears as though the House of Commons will lack several key members.

Yesterday Scott Reid, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, repeated Mr. Martin's commitment to remain neutral in the CBC labour dispute. “ The Prime Minister doesn’t cross picket lines and he won’t cross a picket line. It’s a matter of respect for labour and a determination to not be seen as taking sides,” he said.

Mr. Martin, however, did conduct a 2001 telephone interview with CBC anchor Peter Mansbridge while 1,600 of the broadcaster's technicians were on strike, contradicting his claim to not cross picket lines.

Mr. Martin spoke to Mr. Mansbridge when he was finance minister after the release of his Dec. 10, 2001 budget.

Mr. Reid said yesterday the 2001 interview was a simple mistake, not an intentional breach of neutrality. “ The example you cite was an oversight — one that will not be repeated,” he said.