A few hours before the start of the G8, CNW Group refused to distribute my factual press release respecting a long-term case of systemic corruption at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission; the same well-documented case that I have been addressing on this blog and which is directly associated with my precedent-setting legal case (Mahar v Rogers Cable Systems Ltd.) (Allegations of Canadian corruption blocked hours before start of G8, 25 June 2010).

Despite several phone calls, emails, and providing the company with all of the documents submitted to Prime Minister Stephen Harper by my legal counsel Paul Armarego, CNW Group representatives did not budge and refused to distribute my press release as I requested to the New York media market.

Although CNW Group has previously issued several related press releases for me in relation to this issue, company representative Mr Marche said that press releases are evaluated on a “case-by-case basis” and it was not possible for his company to distribute this particular one unless it was authorized by the company’s legal department; which was closed at the time.

Here are some of my previous press that CNW Group did recently distribute: (Prime Minister Harper notified of billion-dollar CRTC scandal, 3 June 2010): (Allegation CBC’s Richard Stursberg aware of ‘Mediascam’, 10 June 2010): (CRTC chairman notified of corruption in 2007 and 2008, 14, June 2010) and (Letter to PM alleging systemic corruption posted online, 21 June 2010).

Frankly, I am at a loss to find a logical rationale for this news blockage right before the start of the G8 Summit in Canada; precisely at a time when this unique case of systemic corruption and its potential implications would be appreciated by world leaders.

Furthermore, I have also been informed by CNW Group that PR Newswire in the US is refusing to distribute my press release. “The Editorial Supervisor of our US affiliate has deemed that the release cannot be issued citing that the release contains allegations of corruption with no reference to actual legal proceedings.”

Basically, I’ve been press release blacklisted in North America!

Maybe it is a good thing that I live in Australia.

Anyway, the whole thing might simply be a misunderstanding. I’ve sent additional information to CNW to share with PR Newswire and I am looking forward to the pending decisions by their respective lawyers on whether or not the companies will distribute my press release.

Better late than never.

But if you do not want to wait for lawyers to determine what is acceptable for public distribution in terms of this case of government corruption in the G8, I’ve posted a copy of the blocked press release below for your review.

Also, here are some online forums that you may wish to join and documents to read if you are interested in the facts contained in the blocked press release below.

Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 31 May 2010 [Read]

Canadian Television Fund: A Convenient Deception, 13 June 2008 [Read]

Profiteering in the Name of Culture, 20 July 2007 [Read]

Allegations of unprecedented case of government corruption in G8

New York Times correspondent Ian Austen has today been notified of an alleged billion-dollar scandal at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC); the same quasi-judicial regulatory tribunal which restricts the distribution of American television programming in Canada.

The highly damning allegations involve Canadian companies traded on the New York Stock Exchange: Rogers Communications Inc (NYSE:RCI) and Shaw Communications Inc (NYSE:SJR).

On 3 June 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was provided with a pound of documents and a letter from lawyer Paul Armarego in relation to this issue, on behalf of former Canadian broadcasting insider Keith Mahar.

Mr Austen has been provided with the same documents submitted to Canada’s prime minister; as well as a copy of the response by the Prime Minister’s Office, dated 9 June 2010.

A copy of Mr Armarego’s letter is available on Mr Mahar’s blog, where he claims “the long-term case of systemic corruption addressed to Prime Minister Harper by Mr Armarego is unprecedented in the G8” (www.mentalympian.wordpress.com).

Professor Matthew Fraser has publicly stated that the CRTC is plagued by “institutionalized corruption” and that its operations are based on “backroom deals, furtively dispensed favours and institutionalized cronyism” (National Post, 10 June 2000).

At issue is a long-term scheme that first surfaced in the final month that the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney was Canada’s prime minister, one permitting influential Canadian media corporations to overcharge millions of citizens for cable television service if donations were made to subsidize private companies.

According to information in Mr Armarego’s letter, this scheme was designed by CRTC commissioners to unjustly enrich some of the wealthiest Canadians at that time; including Ted Rogers, JR Shaw and André Chagnon.

Features of the unjust corporate enrichment scandal reported to Prime Minister Harper include the following:

Monopoly cable companies permitted by CRTC officials to overcharge millions of Canadians for basic cable service if the firms opted to donate money to subsidize private companies.

Monopoly cable companies not required to do any work or provide any service for the revenue retained.

Monopoly cable companies not required by CRTC officials to account for the use of the money retained under the scheme; thereby fostering cross-subsidization and unfair competition in contravention of public policy.

Monopoly cable companies permitted by CRTC officials to improperly siphon revenue out of the Canadian broadcasting system.

CRTC officials sanctioned monopoly cable companies to collect monthly fees under false pretence from millions of Canadians.

CRTC officials provided false and misleading information to Parliament and journalists.

On 31 May 2010, in an unrelated Canadian public inquiry, Justice Jeffrey Oliphant determined that Mr Mulroney’s business dealings were “inappropriate” in relation to the former prime minister accepting envelopes stuffed with $1,000 bills from a German arm’s dealer after he left office in June 1993.

For more information:

www.mentalympian.wordpress.com