BCTV News Hour’s May 11 edition led off with “something that could have a big impact on the provincial election campaign,” Tony Parsons told his viewers. “We have secret documents from the BCTF suggesting that teachers could take a strike vote very soon after next Tuesday’s election. And how a possible strike might play out very much depends on which party forms the next provincial government.
“Because one of them has already designated education an essential service. And the other has said it is in favour on the teachers’ right to strike.”
Very clearly laid out, Tony, but the problem is that it’s not true. There are at least six errors or lies in the statement.
A couple of points:
(1) At the very least, thanks to the Tyee there is enough independent media in B.C. for this kind of story to be told - even if it's too late to change the results now. In Saskatchewan, that's not the case; any indy papers are weekly and poorly circulated.
(2) This story also highlights what the federal NDP is up against. It's not enough to be slightly, but distinctly, more desirable than the other two federal parties: as soon as the NDP is within striking distance of the top spot in the polls, any perceived weakness (whether real or not) in the NDP or in any perceived supporters will be blown far out of proportion. As one consequence, the NDP can't afford to focus on taking down only one of either the Libs or the Cons: it has to have a message against both so strong that it gets heard even with minimal exposure.
(Shall we start thanking Gurmant Grewal now?)
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