Commitment from CBC President Perrin Beatty

OTTAWA, ON, April 3, 1996 - Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the CBC, has confirmed a precious commitment that the CBC will not rebroadcast the controversial television series, The Valour and the Horror.

This information was conveyed to Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations, in a letter received today.

The Supreme Court ruled on March 7, 1996, that a private group of veterans could not proceed with a libel suit involving the CBC and the series' producers for defamation.

When the court ruling was announced, a Canadian Press article quoted CBC spokesperson, Tom Curzon, stating that the series would be rebroadcast "in the fullness of time." Chadderton was prompted by this statement to ask for a clarification from the CBC President.

He had communicated with Perrin Beatty upon his appointment to the CBC in a letter dated April 13, 1995. Mr. Beatty had replied on Arpil 24, 1995, stating:

"In respect to the question you raise about The Valour and the Horror, let me reiterate the assurances given to you by my predecessors; namely, that the CBC has no plans to rebroadcast the series. Should that change, the commitments made by the former officers of the Corporation regarding the programs' need to conform to CBC jounalistic policy would be respected."

"We are indeed pleased that the CBC President has indicated that his commitment will stand. Obviously, he did not read into the court ruling a 'carte blanche' which would allow the CBC to rebroadcast the series," Chadderton said. "In the decision, it was apparent that the Supreme Court was not endorsing the series, but was stating merely that there were no grounds for libel," Chadderton stated.