CBC spokeswoman Amanda Brewer claims the ban on use of the words "terrorist" and "terrorism" is "a longstanding CBC policy", wrote Eric Lawee, humanities professor in York’s Faculty of Arts, in a July 20 letter to the National Post. This claim is incorrect, however, according to a column by CBC ombudsman David Bazay – published in the Canadian Jewish News in 2002 – responding to a critique of the CBC on this score, noted Lawee. Bazay wrote that "there's nothing in CBC journalism policy that prevents the public broadcaster's journalists from calling a spade a spade or a terror attack a terror attack." He also said that he had "no problem with having the suicide bombing of civilians being described as an act of terrorism." Indeed, CBC reporters regularly described the events of 9/11 in such terms. In 2001, there was only one consistent ban on the use of the term "terrorism" in CBC news reports: when the victims of terrorist atrocities were Israelis. The good news is that the CBC is now apparently more consistent than it was in 2001, said Lawee. The bad news is that the public broadcaster's policy has reached new heights of absurdity and immorality, he concluded.
University facilities strengthen York Region's bid for 2014 games
York Region is throwing its hat into the Commonwealth Games' ring without formal regional council approval at this point, reported The Hamilton Spectator July 20 in a story about bids by Halifax, Calgary, Hamilton and York Region to host the 2014 event. "It's only $5,000 and we polled councillors, so we know the support is there," said regional councillor Jim Jones. He said York Region's strengths would be population to draw from and facilities at York University and possibly The Rogers Centre and Air Canada Centre.