The union representing Toronto Sun employees is defending the integrity of its members, saying what appears to be an internal memo dictating news coverage of the upcoming Ontario election was never shared with journalists.

Unifor Local 87-M, which also represents workers at the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, said the unsigned memo published by Canadaland was not widely distributed.

“The leaked memo, which was not shared with the newsroom, has now resulted in disparaging public comments about the independence of Toronto Sun journalists,” the union said in a statement.

Unifor said it “rejects any notion the newspaper’s award-winning multimedia journalists would sacrifice their journalistic integrity based on the newspaper’s editorial policy.”

At issue is a three-page document entitled “Toronto Sun Provincial Election Plans” that was obtained by Canadaland, an independent news website known for its coverage of the media.

The memo was described by Canadaland as outlining “what appear to be the Sun’s plans for covering the upcoming provincial election.”

It promises a “focus on exposing the Liberal record during the campaign and advocating for change that addresses the critical need to responsibly address chronic and growing problems in health, education and economy.”

The Star has not been able to verify the authenticity of the memo. The Sun is owned by Postmedia, whose vice-president of communications, Phyllise Gelfand, did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

While the Sun’s editorial pages have been unabashedly conservative since its founding in 1971, the memo obtained by Canadaland suggested its news coverage would also lean that way for this spring’s election campaign.

“The past 14 years of progressive Liberal policies have undermined Ontario’s economy, electricity system and core public services and introduced unprecedented social division,” reads the memo under a section entitled “Editorial Perspective.”

“Successive Liberal governments have been fiscally reckless, plagued by scandal, self-serving and demonstratively harmed the quality of life for millions of Ontarians.”

It also included “top storylines” — including health care, hydro, debt, carbon pricing, the minimum wage, and “free speech,” among others — that would reflect badly on the governing Liberals.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

In response to the Canadaland revelation, the Sun’s famously feisty reporters and columnists have been asserting their autonomy on social media.

“Take all the hacks at me you like. I’m used to it and I’m a columnist,” tweeted Sun columnist Lorrie Goldstein, imploring his followers to “not besmirch the reputation” of Sun reporters.

Read more about: