Hamilton Mayoralty Candidate Paul Fromm Excluded By  Cable 14 From Candidates’ Debate Will File Discrimination Complaint With CRTC
HAMILTON, September 20, 2022. Hamilton Mayoralty candidate Paul Fromm announced today that he is filing a formal complaint of discrimination with the CRTC against local cable station Cable 14. “Excluding nominated candidates from the mayoralty debate is discriminatory and wrong/ In 2018, there were 14 mayoral candidates and the debate went off well. This year, there are only nine,” says Fromm.

Cable 14 seems to want to make or control the news, rather than report it, he adds. “All candidates should be included. The give and take of a debate lets voters know the candidates better. The criteria Cable 14 is using to exclude candidates are hopelessly vague and ill-defined.They want only candidates “having a reasonable chance of obtaining enough votes to be competitive on Election Night.” It’s a month before election day. The campaign is young. “Cable 14 is standing in the way of some candidates to be ‘competitive’,” says Fromm/
Cable 14’s exclusionary policy seems to violate the station’s own mission statement, Fromm charges. The station says:” Cable 14 is a local specialty channel serving the Hamilton and Haldimand communities. …Cable 14 showcases the Greater Hamilton area …, by  providing an avenue for diverse voices and alternative choices.” Excluding some candidates is the opposite of providing a forum for diverse voices, says Fromm._______________________________________________________________________________

Here is further background.


It appears the deplatforming and thought control freaks in the media are hard at work at Cable 14 in Hamilton. This is the community cable station in Hamilton. In the 2018 federal election, all 14 candidates were invited to participate in a live debate.
Not this year. Only select candidates will be invited. Apparently, I am not among the hand picked crew.
Well, then, how do the deplatformers decide?
Here are their criteria: ” In the same approach as the recent provincial and federal election campaigns, criteria has been established to determine which candidates will be invited to participate on-stage in the live debate. The participation criteria has been created by the debate producers, in collaboration with our media colleagues. Candidates invited to appear live have demonstrated the ability to generate significant city-wide, issues-based conversation in the media and public sphere. Additional criteria considered included candidate performance during previous election campaigns (where applicable), consideration of public polling results ahead of the debate, and other available evidence of candidates having a reasonable chance of obtaining enough votes to be competitive on Election Night.”Exclusion from the debate lessens a candidate’s chances of being ‘competitive,’ says Fromm.

Are you any wiser?
I sought clarification from station employee James McMillan jmcmillan@cable14.com. He did not explain but merely repeated the criteria to me.
So, let’s go through them one by one:

1. ” Candidates invited to appear live have demonstrated the ability to generate significant city-wide, issues-based conversation in the media and public sphere.” What does that mean? I have seen articles on Andrea Horwath, former Ontario NDP leader, who is running and on former Mayor Bob Bratina. Two mainstream articles have been done on me — a hit piece by CBC, September 3, and a relatively objective Global News story, August 12. My candidacy has even caused Bernie Farber in Ottawa to raise concerns I might misuse the voters’ list. That would seem to mean I have generated “an issues based conversation.” A Google search of my name will show that I have more entries than any candidate except Andrea Horwath and Bob Bratina.

2. ” Additional criteria considered included candidate performance during previous election campaigns (where applicable)” This is unfair. If a candidate has not run previously, is he/she excluded. If they have run, are they only included if they one. None of that is clear. I ran for Mayor of Hamilton in 2014 and placed 6thof 14. Does that put me in the winners’ circle at Cable 14.?Bob Bratina, jaz Butt, Andrea Horwath and Michael Pattison have all run in previous elections. Why am I excluded?

3. “Consideration of polling results ahead of the debate.” Has there, in fact, been any polling? Candidates aren’t even allowed to put up signs until September 26, according to Hamilton By-law FC0211a. Interest only begins to pick up after Labour Day.

Cable 14 is owned by Cogeco and Rogers. Jonathan Freedman is the General Manager: 905-523-1414, ext. 222; jfreedman@cable14.com; 150 Dundurn St., South, Hamilton, ON, L8P 4K3