Sometimes, it’s just funny to see how desperate CBC’s detractors are sometimes to find fault with the Corporation.
CanWest (a direct competitor to CBC Television, natch) has had all its various media guns out decrying that CBC staffers can smoke inside the Toronto broadcast centres speciallly designated, air-filtered rooms.
The Global news report is practically a parody, imho. They have a “hidden camera” in one of the smoke rooms, which they describe as being outfitted with “plush sofas.” (Have a look at the video and tell me if you think they’re lush. They look more like discount Ikea to me.)
They even ambush CBC employees outside the building.
There’s only one problem with their report — it’s a non-story. It’s perfectly legal for the CBC to have smoking rooms, as it is a federally regulated business.
Then the National Post (a CanWest publication) weighs in to promote to the Global report (three cheers for media consolidation):
Despite Ontario’s strict prohibition on smoking in the workplace, employees at the CBC’s downtown Toronto headquarters are legally lighting up inside two smoking lounges outfitted with plush sofas and ashtrays, a Global News investigation has found.
Hidden cameras captured smokers puffing away and ashtrays filled with cigarette butts inside the public broadcaster’s Toronto building, and the CBC says its workers can smoke in similar designated rooms at its locations in Montreal, Moncton, St. John’s, Nfld., and Saint John, N.B.
Wow. Good scoop guys; you caught us providing our employees with a place they can keeping the smoke away from their fellow non-smoking employees.
Uh, yeah.
Slow news day?
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I’ve been investigating Global and the National Post for years now, and I’ve discovered that they both SUCK.
And it’s perfectly legal.
I am not a competitor of CBC like Global and yet I find it gross & arrogant for the CBC to keep its smoking rooms open, even if it is legal.
It’s not allowed in Ontario (where I am) to have smoking inside a workplace — other businesses closed their smoking rooms down even though it might help business-wise to allow smoking (bars, restaurants, etc.). This ban on workplace smoking was to protect the health of non-smoking workers and customers. Even well-designed and vented smoking lounges can still “leak” smoke and its nasty friends into other parts of the building.
Read this clip on second-hand smoke from the CBC:
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-1945-12660/life_society/smoking/clip8
Shouldn’t the CBC be a leader and do the same?
And, please don’t blame Global or the Post for digging up the truth. I think most Canadians would agree that the CBC is wrong in this case.
So … CBC HQ was the only federal building they could locate?
Can you spell agenda?
Gaggles of Canwest Global employees could be found in that smoking room last month during the taping of Deal Or No Deal Canada.
We even saw one of the suitcase girls in there. Straight up.
Time you guys further secured the National brand ID by starting up your own newspaper.
Seriously.
If the privately owned competition’s allowed to get away with owning both types of media services these days, why not CBC?
Plush? Haha, those things are stained and old. And the ashtray is an old film case. Hardly luxurious. Would Global be doing this report if there was a smoking room at CH or Natl Post?
Fair point…but what about getting the camera into the building at all.
How was that done…and if a camera…what else could some unauthorized person bring in…to the heart of Canada’s public broadcaster?
Isn’t there a better story about our open door security?
I actually think its better in terms of health to have the smoke rooms. Nicotine is an addiction, and many people who currently smoke are not going to quit. I absolutely hate going into any building of a decent size due to the fact that the entrance is always crowded with people smoking. So in entering and exiting any building you inevitably inhale a decent amount of smoke. Better to give the smokers an isolated place in which other people are free from their smoke. Mind you, one of the first things I did a few years ago upon discovering the smoke room was puff a dube in it. I’m sure I wasn’t the first or last either.
Oops, bad link there. What should go to The National Post, goes to The National with Peter Mansbridge.
BTW, I totally agree with this being a non-story.
This was all over private radio this morning too with AM radio hosts screaming “my tax dollars go to support this?” Funny as the same hosts were screaming three years ago that anti-smoking legislation was being taken too far.
Cheers to Global….Holding themselves up to the high standards of Fox, Headline Prime and the National Enquirer for their brilliant sensationalization…
It must have been smokers who made the decision to investigate this story. For a smoker, during winter, being able to smoke indoors IS a big deal I guess LOL
It’s a lucky loophole. My workplace had to shut down its smoking room, why shouldn’t yours? It’s just a few blocks away. Just because my workplace is not federally run, doesn’t mean my co-workers are jonesing for a smoke any less than your co-workers.
I saw this on their newscast and was disgusted at how low they would go to try to diss the CBC. It’s too bad because some one was doing this for them on the inside and it’s pathetic.
Close the smoking rooms. You won’t find them in other radio/TV stations or Federal regulated companies in Ontario. There is a total indoor workplace smoking ban in Ontario. Get with the program CBC. Well done Global.
your national post link links to The National (cbc show)
The Hour’s Hilary Doyle looked into the Post piece (ie makes fun of it) in this report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i6VKXnPJNM
I like how the Post called it a “sting” video, while acknowledging in their story that the rooms are “perfectly legal.”
I’m a ex-smoker (can’t believe I’m admitting that in cyberspace!) and quit when I was pregnant with my son. Thankfully, I was able to give it up and have never looked back. That said, I enjoyed using CBC smoking rooms in the past (what a great place to get a scoop btw) But I totally agree with Psuedononymous…my 2 year old decided that it was fun to start ‘puffing’ on his lollipop stick. At first I was wondering where on earth he would have seen that behaviour to copy, and then the lightbulb went off…forcing all the smokers outside puts them just about everywhere we go…the coffee shop we like to go to always has a smoker or two outside…outside the metro…outside the pharmacy…even outside most hospitals! How about on the grounds of Winterlude??? I was there with my kid and had to tobaggan through the cloud of moms waiting at the bottom of the slide! Smokers rights blah blah blah… i know it’s not easy to quit, but if you must, it would be nice if you didn’t do it in front of the children.
Reading about CBC history in “Cue The Elephant” by Knowlton Nash, it’s quite routine to see all the legendary broadcasters smoking (not that there’s anything right with that).
And drinking.
It still made for great journalism and entertainment.
And Gzowski could probably still have done good radio with that tube in his throat.
Wow. The hypocrisy of the CBC koolaid drinkers boggles the mind.
Answer this: Should there be indoor smoking ANYWHERE???
If yes, then fine. If not then stop defending the CBC, you certainly would attack any other group (ex veterans) for having one.
Maybe my first post was too cryptic.
Canwest Global staff were IN CBC during the Deal or No Deal taping in January.
I will say again, the smoke rooms were CRAWLING with Canwest staff last month.
“Should there be indoor smoking ANYWHERE???”
Probably not, although it seems the compassionate thing to do to allow it in long-term care facilities, as some provincial laws allow.
The federal law is out of date and should probably be changed. Until then, the CBC and “airports, television broadcasters, ports and other employers that fall under Ottawa’s jurisdiction” can legally have indoor smoking rooms. I’m quoting the National Post there. I wonder if they investigated any of those other employers with hidden cameras.
“you certainly would attack any other group (ex veterans) for having one.”
Straw man.