Tories Say Won’t Talk to CTV Without ‘Unequivocal Apology’ Over Edited Poilievre Quote

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 11, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Conservative Party says it will refrain from giving interviews to CTV News or deal with its parent company Bell Media until the network offers an “unequivocal apology” for “selectively” editing a quote from its leader Pierre Poilievre.

A Sept. 24 memo from Poilievre’s director of media relations was sent to the Conservative caucus, urging all members to avoid participating in interviews or providing statements to CTV News and its reporters. They were also asked not to engage with parent company Bell or its lobbyists.

“Until CTV issues a formal and unequivocal apology—one that explicitly acknowledges the malicious nature of their editing and not merely dismisses this as a mistake or error—we will not engage with them,” wrote Sebastian Skamski.

CTV News aired a segment Sept. 22 about the motion of non-confidence in the government tabled by Poilievre. CTV News’ broadcast made it seem as though Poilievre’s motion was related to opposition to dental care, as the clip spliced footage from a media scrum, making it appear Poilievre made remarks he never actually said.

A CTV correspondent in the segment said dental care’s fate was uncertain due to political uncertainty after the NDP pulled its formal support for the Liberals. That was followed by the edited clip of Poilievre saying: “That’s why we need to put forward a motion.”

The clip was created from a Sept. 18 scrum with reporters, where Poilievre mentioned a number of issues, such as rising government debt, inflation, and crime, as reasons to trigger an early election. “That’s why it’s time to put forward a motion for a carbon tax election,” he said.

CTV News issued an apology on Sept. 23, saying a comment by Poilievre had been “taken out of context” during its previous day’s broadcast.

“It left viewers with the impression the Conservative non confidence motion was to defeat the Liberals’ dental care program,” wrote CTV News, adding the Tories made it clear the motion is about a long list of issues including the carbon tax.

“A misunderstanding during the editing process resulted in the misrepresentation,” said the network. “We unreservedly apologize.”

Two days prior to the broadcast, Poilievre had criticized the network and its parent company Bell over the recent downgrading of its credit rating by Moody’s. The rating agency placed Bell at the last rung above junk-bond status due to its debt levels.

“No wonder their network CTV pushes such pro-Liberal news: they need lots of federal regulatory assistance,” Poilievre said on X. “My prediction: Bell will need a bailout from the Liberals one day.”

Poilievre has adopted a combative stance toward some media outlets, accusing them of bias. He has also promised to defund the public broadcaster CBC.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to Poilievre’s comments about Bell eventually needing a bailout while in New York City for the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24.

Trudeau said democratic principles are under attack across the world from “authoritarians” and “far-right-wing populists” who target “free, independent media.”

“Politicians who deliberately undermine the legitimacy and the hard work by professional journalists are not standing up for democracy, are certainly not standing up for freedom,” he said.

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, who oversees the CBC and media programs and subsidies, also spoke out on the Tories refusing to deal with CTV News in a social media post.

“His hidden agenda: to not have journalists ask him difficult questions,” she wrote on social media.

St-Onge criticized Bell in early 2024 about its plan to cut 4,800 jobs after it received more than $40 million in regulatory relief from Ottawa.