Rogers Media is the second broadcast outlet to reject election ads from Toronto mayoral candidate Faith Goldy.
The former Rebel Media contributor posted a screenshot of an email from Alan Dark, senior vice-president of sales for Rogers Media, late Sunday. In it, Dark cites cancellation provision 5.4 of Rogers’ Standard Sales Terms and Conditions which states that the company “may cancel all or part of any Campaign element in its sole discretion.”
“In violation of our signed contract & CRTC guidelines, on Sunday night Rogers Media banned Faith Goldy Campaign radio ads set to begin Monday morning,” Tweeted Goldy. “The media truly is the enemy of the people! These unelected hacks are engineering, STEALING Toronto’s election!!”
Goldy was in Ontario Superior Court on Monday with constitutional law and civil rights attorney Clayton Ruby, where a judge was hearing her request for an emergency injunction against Bell Media that would compel the broadcaster to air her 30-second spots before the municipal election on Oct. 22.
While CRTC rules state that broadcasters must treat all candidates equitably, in its legal response to the suit, Bell Media said it was concerned it would violate laws against spreading hate speech if it were to run the ads. While the content of the ad itself wasn’t objectionable, Bell cited Goldy’s removal from crowdfunding site Patreon and PayPal for violating hate speech policies, and her large following built on anti-Islamic views.
It also noted several complaints leading up to the air date which Bell maintains led it to believe that CP24 would suffer commercial harm if it ran the ads. Additionally, Bell argues Goldy is in the wrong court and should be filing an order through the CRTC.
Ruby told reporters outside court that a judge will decide later this week and possibly as early as Tuesday, as to whether Ontario Superior Court can hear Goldy’s complaint and grant an injunction.
Polling information to date suggests that Goldy is running a distant third in the mayoral race behind John Tory, who is seeking a second term, and Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former chief city planner.
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