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Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
You can't avoid them - those doomsday radio commercials that warn our overburdened electricity system is dangerously close to turning out the lights on all of us. They've been airing relentlessly for weeks on many GTA radio stations. They urge the public to let their politicians know they're worried about the grid and to stop making changes that could leave Canada in the dark.
Only at the end do you learn they are ads from the government of Alberta. You can learn more about them and the reasons behind them in this article, but for the purposes of this board, it's interesting to note that at least one local radio station has stopped running them altogether after listener complaints.
It's Jazz FM, which of course relies on contributions to help pay the bills. They explained their decision on a recent Twitter/X post.
That has led to the usual reaction of craziness from both sides on their Twitter site, with some listeners thanking them and others accusing them of censorship.
- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
Based on the tweets I've seen, far more people are congratulating JazzFM than criticizing them for this decision (including several people from Alberta). The use of the term "banned" is a poor choice of words in my opinion. These ads are loaded with misinformation and are solely designed to rile up the rubes with anti-Ottawa sentiment. JazzFM simply listened to what its listeners told them and made a decision that carrying these ads was not worth the loss of goodwill with its audience. It's a business decision, not ideological.
- RadioActive
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
It's a fair point, I suppose, but I'm not sure what other word to use. Plus, in the headline box, you're restricted to about 70 characters. "Banned" was shorter than the alternatives I tried that would not fit before I ran out of room. So banned it was. Although on second thought, perhaps "dropped" would have fit, as well. Either way, they're not running them anymore.
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Thread Starter- Walter
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
I wish 640 would ban that tired old public service ad that they run 9 times an hour... "You're doing great, Son! You look so handsome! Welcome to the firm, Son! Oops, you're in jail for drunk driving". Even Spence or those moronic Subaru ads are less annoying at this point.
- Dial Twister
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
BowmanvilleBob wrote:
These ads are loaded with misinformation and are solely designed to rile up the rubes with anti-Ottawa sentiment.
Couldn't have said it better myself. So much of the strife, in society these days, is directly related to ill-informed, easily-influenced "rubes" repeating conspiracy theories ad nauseum. It's getting worse, not better. Jazz-FM did the right thing.
- turkeytop
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
It's been a long while since I heard CJRT. When did they start running ads?
Last edited by turkeytop (October 5, 2023 8:00 pm)
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- DX
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
These ads are loaded with misinformation and are solely designed to rile up the rubes with anti-Ottawa sentiment.
Any specifics on what you consider "misinformation" in the ads?
- cash
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
You would think a jazz station would need the money.
- BowmanvilleBob
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
These ads are loaded with misinformation and are solely designed to rile up the rubes with anti-Ottawa sentiment.
Any specifics on what you consider "misinformation" in the ads?
The ads claim the new net-zero emissions policies introduced by the federal government, which by the way won't come into effect until 2035, will lead to blackouts and power grid failures across the country. Yet, the Alberta government's claims are backed by a single study by the Alberta's Electricity Systems Operator, which has consistently refused to release the data it used to make these calculations or the rationale behind its claims. It also ignores the fact that in periods of peak demand, Alberta already purchases electrical power from the U.S., particularly Montana and would continue to be able to do so with the new regulations in place. Finally, rapid improvements are being made in the ability to use batteries to store power generated by solar and wind turbines, making it much more feasible to achieve as close to a net-zero emission target over the next decade.
In short, Alberta refuses to come clean on the rationale behind its claims. Like the claim that Alberta is entitled to 53 percent of assets of the CPP to form its own provincial pension plan, this is just another cheap political stunt by Danielle Smith to pander to the small group of pro-sovereignty yahoos that make up her base.
- Tomas Barlow
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Re: Gov't. Of Alberta Radio Ads Have Been Banned On One T.O. Station
Like the claim that Alberta is entitled to 53 percent of assets of the CPP to form its own provincial pension plan
With 12 or 13 percent of Canada’s population.
That’s interesting math.