UMVA has learned that a notorious “prank show” backed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has been exposed as a partisan hit job, targeting prominent conservative figures and critics.
The show, Northland Tales, has been accused of approaching and deceiving a range of individuals, including academics, authors, retired and active RCMP officers, a retired teacher, elected officials, and members of the media. Each of these individuals has one thing in common: they are perceived as being on the conservative side of the Canadian political spectrum.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that none of the people targeted by Northland Tales have come forward to describe themselves as liberal or progressive. The show's creators seem to be activists on the left, using the program to mock and ridicule their perceived opponents.
This matters because taxpayer dollars are funding this program. The CBC receives over $1.5 billion in subsidies from Parliament, as well as access to other pots of public money. The Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN) and the Indigenous Screen Office also contribute millions of dollars to this misguided project.
In a statement announcing a pause in production, the CBC defended the show, claiming it was a project of CBC Entertainment and not affiliated with CBC News or APTN News. The statement explained that the project was pitched at the Indigenous Screen Summit and partnered with APTN shortly thereafter.
The CBC statement robustly defended the style of production, citing social experiments and satirical prank shows as a long-established television format. However, this justification rings hollow, as the show's tactics degrade and humiliate its targets, rather than promoting truth and reconciliation.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the show's approach has sparked outrage, with the National Police Federation union calling for a full investigation. The union's president, Brian Sauvé, wrote to Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, demanding prompt attention to this matter.
As the controversy surrounding Northland Tales continues to grow, one thing is clear: the joke's on the Canadian public, who are footing the bill for this partisan propaganda.
