The Prime Minister has made it clear that he believes that many staff at Radio-Canada have tendencies to lean towards the left, contrary to most Quebecers’ own political leanings.
“I understand that there are many at Radio-Canada who hate these values, but I think that these values are the true values of a large percentage of Quebecers,” said Harper in the interview.
In fact he said that he believes that most Quebecers support his government, and specifically his views on crime, terrorism, and cuts in taxes.
The Conservative party currently holds five seats in the province, which is less than the seven held by the Liberals, and the 54 by the New Democrats.
Interestingly Harper also reiterated: “I remain convinced that Quebecers are not leftists, contrary to the image conveyed by some media or the opposition parties,”
Harper’s belief however that Quebecois society is not so left-leaning might not be so far-fetched as the PLQ, Quebec’s own centrist party, currently holds 70 seats out of 125 in the National Assembly, and the right-wing PQ holds 29 seats.
This is by no means the first time the Conservatives have criticized Radio-Canada. In 2011, Jason Kenney blatantly said that the station lies all the time.
Alexander Boulerice, NDP MP responded to Harper’s remark with: “I think Mr. Harper’s comments are absolutely deplorable and shows the whole ideology of the Conservatives, who don’t like Radio-Canada,”
The remark comes days after Harper lost his Director of Communications to the private sector, Jason MacDonald.
