‘THE STORY OF US’ HAS SOME ISSUES, THE CBC ADMITS
1 WHAT HAPPENED
The CBC apologized Tuesday after accusations of inaccuracies in its docu-drama Canada: The Story of Us, a 10-hour series, which premièred on March 26.
2 THE NOVA SCOTIA COMPLAINT
Premier Stephen McNeil said the show was wrong to assert the country’s first permanent European settlement was established in 1608 near what is now Quebec City. McNeil said the history of Canada started three years earlier, when French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a settlement at Port Royal, N.S. The mayor of Annapolis Royal, N.S., also denounced the show.
3 QUEBEC COMPLAINT
“With its clichés, its omissions, its bias, The Story of Us will do nothing to improve the knowledge of our history,” PQ member Stephane Bergeron said. “On the contrary, it will foster offensive prejudice.” His colleague, Agnes Maltais, said the history of First Nations, Acadians and Quebecers deserved better than “this contemptuous commentary.” Intergovernmental Affairs Minister JeanMarc Fournier said the CBC should apologize.
4 THE CBC RESPONDS
“Whenever you recount a country’s history, there will inevitably be citizens, historians and politicians who will have different points of view, and that’s certainly been the case with ‘Canada: The Story of Us,’” CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson said. “After the first two episodes, some people felt misrepresented and for that, we apologize. We fully recognize that not everyone will agree with every perspective presented. Our intention was never to offend anyone or any group, nor diminish the importance of any of the stories that were not included.”
5 WHAT IT WILL DO
Thompson said the CBC plans to host live digital conversations about the series. The first will take place on the show’s website, in English and French, after the next episode airs April 18.