By Canadian Press

CRTC tells Radio-Canada to apologize for offensive language on air

Jun 30, 2022 | 1:04 PM

MONTREAL — The CRTC has ordered Radio-Canada to apologize after a host and commentator made repeated use of the N-word on air.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says the public broadcaster violated Canadian broadcasting policy objectives and values and did not do enough to mitigate the effect the word could have on its audience.

The decision stems from a 2020 episode of a radio show in which commentator Simon Jodoin and host Annie Desrochers discussed a petition to demand the dismissal of a Concordia University professor who had quoted a famous book with the N-word in the title.

During the discussion, Jodoin and Desrochers repeated the full title of Pierre Vallières’ controversial 1968 take on Quebec history several times.

A listener filed a complaint with the CRTC after first being told by Radio-Canada’s ombudsman that the use of the word in that specific context did not contravene its journalistic standards and practices.

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The CRTC disagreed and told Radio-Canada to apologize to the complainant in writing and submit a plan to ensure that it better addresses similar issues in the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2022.

The Canadian Press