Most reliable, objective Canadian political news sources

[pharphis]

Howdy.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been entirely apolitical when it comes to Canada where I live (southern Ontario) and have only really followed (some) US politics in the last year or so via some youtube channels like Secular Talk.

Anyway, I'd like to start contributing via voting and been informed about my vote. Does anyone have some preferences for objective, reliable news sources? It would have to be online, as well.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Caper]

Howdy.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been entirely apolitical when it comes to Canada where I live (southern Ontario) and have only really followed (some) US politics in the last year or so via some youtube channels like Secular Talk.

Anyway, I'd like to start contributing via voting and been informed about my vote. Does anyone have some preferences for objective, reliable news sources? It would have to be online, as well.

Thanks for any suggestions

You know. I think you need a few different sources... at least. Most of the media leans left... but it's not all that bad either. (I'm pretty right wing).

I must say... though I wouldn't argue with anyone who said he was a bit nuts. I like Ezra Levant from the Sun network. Sometimes he just gets an issue exactly right, when everyone else is getting it exactly wrong.

Competition law, copyright and political ads I believe was one such issue.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Howdy.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been entirely apolitical when it comes to Canada where I live (southern Ontario) and have only really followed (some) US politics in the last year or so via some youtube channels like Secular Talk.

Anyway, I'd like to start contributing via voting and been informed about my vote. Does anyone have some preferences for objective, reliable news sources? It would have to be online, as well.

Thanks for any suggestions

As far as "objective, reliable news sources" you'll have to make up your own mind.

But, if you want to access a variety of Canadian news sources, link to and follow Google.ca News.

I'd provide a link for you but trying to find the correct url from this from this computer keeps on bringing up Google's UK news site.

 

[angrysoba]

I like Ezra Levant from the Sun network. Sometimes he just gets an issue exactly right, when everyone else is getting it exactly wrong.

Ezra Levant is many things, but "Most reliable, objective Canadian political news sources" he is not.

I did actually like his performance at the human rights tribunal, though.

 

[Caper]

Ezra Levant is many things, but "Most reliable, objective Canadian political news sources" he is not.

You are right... and I think I made that clear enough when I brought him up. My point is he often makes the opposite case for an issue most of the media will not make.

Take the copyright issue I linked in the previous post. No one else in the media I have found, have taken the side Ezra has. And he is exactly right. I thought he makes the case better here.
http://www.ezralevant.com/the-media-partys-secret-deal/

And you might like is case in the human rights tribunal.... but what happened to him is probably more serious then you think.

 

[angrysoba]

And you might like is case in the human rights tribunal.... but what happened to him is probably more serious then you think.

I have no idea what you mean because I don't know what you think I think.

 

[Caper]

I have no idea what you mean because I don't know what you think I think.

Ok first off what I said made no sense..... sometimes I type to fast.

Basically I mean he addressed a serious issue in that case and was correct.

 

[angrysoba]

Basically I mean he addressed a serious issue in that case and was correct.

Oh, I agree with that. As it happens, a friend of mine is due to make an appearance at the human rights tribunal. The charges against him are a joke - but, like you say, would actually be quite serious if it ruled against him. The process also seems to be very lengthy.

I furthermore agree with Ezra Levant that when you empower bodies like this to effectively rule on the use of language that they don't particularly like, then the same people fail to see what could happen when they are old and retired and someone else is in charge and who may have a different set of values that they want to effectively criminalize.

 

[Segnosaur]

Anyway, I'd like to start contributing via voting and been informed about my vote. Does anyone have some preferences for objective, reliable news sources? It would have to be online, as well.

Thanks for any suggestions

I don't think there's such thing as a source which is completely unbiased. On average I think our sources are pretty reliable (especially when it comes to your standard news.) Your best choice is to read articles from a multitude of sources.

In general:

- The Sun (canoe.ca) - tends to lean right. This is especially true of their cable news channel (although admittedly I've never watched it; just going by various reports)

- Toronto star - Reputation for leaning to the left (hence its nick name 'Red Star')

- National Post - Hard to pin down; used to be owned by Conrad Black, but was later owned by the Asper family (with Liberal ties). Probably more conservative-leaning

- Globe and Mail (a.k.a. the Grope and Flail)... probably the most middle-of-the-road source. Seems to alternate between supporting the Liberals and Conservatives.

- CBC: generally seen as being marginally left of center.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I don't think there's such thing as a source which is completely unbiased. On average I think our sources are pretty reliable (especially when it comes to your standard news.) Your best choice is to read articles from a multitude of sources.

In general:

- The Sun (canoe.ca) - tends to lean right. This is especially true of their cable news channel (although admittedly I've never watched it; just going by various reports)

- Toronto star - Reputation for leaning to the left (hence its nick name 'Red Star')

- National Post - Hard to pin down; used to be owned by Conrad Black, but was later owned by the Asper family (with Liberal ties). Probably more conservative-leaning

- Globe and Mail (a.k.a. the Grope and Flail)... probably the most middle-of-the-road source. Seems to alternate between supporting the Liberals and Conservatives.

- CBC: generally seen as being marginally left of center.

And Google News connects to all of these plus a whole bunch more from Vancouver to Halifax organized by topic:

Currently featuring articles from:

• NorthBayNipissing.com
• Toronto Sun
• CTV News
• Reuters
• Cranbrook Daily Townsman
• Welland Tribune
• Financial Post
• CBC.ca
• Canada.com
• The Hockey News
• Macleans.ca
• Hamilton Spectator

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

 

[Damien Evans]

And Google News connects to all of these plus a whole bunch more from Vancouver to Halifax organized by topic:

Currently featuring articles from:

• NorthBayNipissing.com
• Toronto Sun
• CTV News
• Reuters
• Cranbrook Daily Townsman
• Welland Tribune
• Financial Post
• CBC.ca
• Canada.com
  [*]The Hockey News
• Macleans.ca
• Hamilton Spectator

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Nice to see the important stuff is in there.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Nice to see the important stuff is in there.

Sorry. I missed that the Globe & Mail was there too.

 

[jaydeehess]

Global news.
Then again I am biased. I work for Shaw.

 

[Corsair 115]

- National Post - Hard to pin down; used to be owned by Conrad Black, but was later owned by the Asper family (with Liberal ties). Probably more conservative-leaning.

Unless it has changed dramatically recently, I'd say the National Post is unabashedly conservative. It has routinely run articles and commentary which deny climate change, and rarely has any substantive criticism (even when deserved) of the Harper government and the Conservatives .

 

[pharphis]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Unless it has changed dramatically recently, I'd say the National Post is unabashedly conservative. It has routinely run articles and commentary which deny climate change, and rarely has any substantive criticism (even when deserved) of the Harper government and the Conservatives .

IMHO the National Post is not that bad. I just took a look at the articles on the page http://www.nationalpost.com and there does not appear to be a huge bias. It does run a fair number of stories that are quite neutral -- not a one track pony by any means.

Read it for a bit of balance at least.

 

[fitzgibbon]

You know. I think you need a few different sources... at least. Most of the media leans left... but it's not all that bad either. (I'm pretty right wing).

I must say... though I wouldn't argue with anyone who said he was a bit nuts. I like Ezra Levant from the Sun network. Sometimes he just gets an issue exactly right, when everyone else is getting it exactly wrong.

The media may be left of you but that doesn't make them left. Ezra is a commentator, a down-market aping of Rex Murphy.

As for reliable news outlets, I've found the Globe most balanced on the print front and the CBC for electronic. The Post is right-of-centre as are the Bell and Shaw media properties (print & electronic). The issue I have with the latter two is their almost utter reliance on the States' big three for reports from elsewhere.

HTH
Fitz

 

[fitzgibbon]

I don't think there's such thing as a source which is completely unbiased. On average I think our sources are pretty reliable (especially when it comes to your standard news.) Your best choice is to read articles from a multitude of sources.

In general:

- The Sun (canoe.ca) - tends to lean right. This is especially true of their cable news channel (although admittedly I've never watched it; just going by various reports)

"Tends to lean right"? When have they ever leaned left? Or centre, for that matter?

And if balance is what you're seeking, SNN (and whatever new name it will go by once the grace period from recent sale of the paper properties expires) is best forgotten as an information source. It's also ironic that the Sun brand has tried to project itself as the source of record for the common man even though owned by Quebecor, a huge Quebec-based media conglomerate whose former president and CEO quit to become a separatist MLA (member of provincial legislature). Take that for what it's worth

- Toronto star - Reputation for leaning to the left (hence its nick name 'Red Star')

Agreed though you can't take it to task for lack of professionalism.

- National Post - Hard to pin down; used to be owned by Conrad Black, but was later owned by the Asper family (with Liberal ties). Probably more conservative-leaning

Unabashedly right-of-centre. Not quite 'Sun in bespoke' but the potential is certainly there. We'll see how the editorial stance changes (if at all) under the new ownership

- Globe and Mail (a.k.a. the Grope and Flail)... probably the most middle-of-the-road source. Seems to alternate between supporting the Liberals and Conservatives.

No argument there. Can stand Marcus Gee but please God let them ditch Margaret Went.

- CBC: generally seen as being marginally left of center.

Centre for all intents and purposes.

Fair 'nuff

Fitz

 

[Segnosaur]

- CBC: generally seen as being marginally left of center.

Centre for all intents and purposes.

Earlier on, you posted a response where you stated:
The media may be left of you but that doesn't make them left.

Do you think the same thing might be happening here? i.e. in previous discussions you have taken positions that appeared (at least to me) to be left of center. Perhaps the reason you view the CBC as "center" is simply because they somehow match up with your (possibly) left of center political philosophy.

Granted, since the CBC can't outright state an overall political position its hard to state with any certainty where they stand politically, but there have been a number of incidents which suggest they have positions hostile to the conservatives: For example, Daniel Lassard's (once a high-ranking CBC official) comments about how the "conservatives don't have a good culture". (Unfortunately I recognize that this similar to 'cherry picking' of data.)

 

[fitzgibbon]

Earlier on, you posted a response where you stated:
The media may be left of you but that doesn't make them left.

Do you think the same thing might be happening here? i.e. in previous discussions you have taken positions that appeared (at least to me) to be left of center. Perhaps the reason you view the CBC as "center" is simply because they somehow match up with your (possibly) left of center political philosophy.

If I'd only cited the CBC, you might have a point. However, you overlook the Globe which I also cited as being on balance balanced. How now (unless the Globe's a left-leaning paper from your perspective)?

Granted, since the CBC can't outright state an overall political position its hard to state with any certainty where they stand politically, but there have been a number of incidents which suggest they have positions hostile to the conservatives: For example, Daniel Lassard's (once a high-ranking CBC official) comments about how the "conservatives don't have a good culture". (Unfortunately I recognize that this similar to 'cherry picking' of data.)

I agree; a 2 1/2-year-old quote from a then-Radio Canada bureau chief is cherry-picking (not to mention it's also something of a stretch to call him "high ranking" [one would think he was C-suite]). You're also paraphrasing for effect. His actual quote was “There is not a great cultural culture, if you allow me the expression, among the Conservatives. They are people who mainly watch American TV.”; not quite the generalist 'culture of conservatives' statement you assigned to him.

Also, given the CPC's relentless throttling of the CBC's budget, you're expecting warmth and camaraderie? And while they may have issues with the Conservatives, that doesn't extend to conservatives as a group as much as you'd like to be able to misframe that statement. That's just a dishonest bit of misrepresentation-for-effect on your part, Seg.

Fitz