This is the kind of story you'd expect to read in the National Post and frankly, I thought twice about even posting this. But it's making headlines in other media because of the nature of the response from Canada's Prime Minister. And it concerns local and national broadcasters.

Mark Carney was in Kelowna, B.C. and was asked about whether the government would consider repealing the Online News Act, which led to Facebook and Instagram refusing to carry Canadian news. Critics have complained that, with shrinking numbers of local news outlets, it gets in the way of emergency news for things like the wildfires out west being available to those who need it most. 

The response? Just listen to the CBC. 

"You may not like this part of the answer," said Carney. "One of the roles of CBC/Radio-Canada is to provide unbiased, immediate, local information, particularly in terms of situations such as you are referring to (the Peachland fire)."

However, CBC tends not to cover local news as completely and quickly as local news outlets.

The answer has raised eyebrows, with many openly wondering if the P.M. should be endorsing one broadcast outlet over another, especially when critics accuse the Corp. of favouring the Liberals. 

The problem for me is that the CBC, whatever you think of it, can't provide the kind of immediate service that a truly local TV or radio station - or even a local newspaper website - can. His answer is also somewhat ironic, since the Online News Act is designed to help boost local news outlets in rural areas. And many of them are closing down despite the law. 

Carney promised to give the CBC an additional $150 million in funding during the election. 

PM vague on Facebook news ban but praises 'unbiased' CBC