# Does Canada allow free speech during an election period?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-allow-free-speech-during-an-election-period/252448>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 27, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-allow-free-speech-during-an-election-period/252448 "2004-06-27T21:43:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-allow-free-speech-during-an-election-period/252448/21 "2004-06-29T21:24:06Z")

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> [@Cerowyn](#):
>
> Sorry, your cite for Canada having stricter rules on free speech is a regulation of the broadcast licensing body? I think you really need to review Canadian TV in comparison to American TV. Your average FCC flunky would die of apoplexy in about two hours, even if you only consider terrestrial broadcasts. American television is ridiculously censored by Canadian standards.

Please pay attention. I don’t mean for this to turn into a debate on the merits of various countries censorship or lack thereof. I was not talking about television, I was very clearly talking about radio.

And if you take issue with my statement that Canada obviously had a lot tighter hold about what can be said on the radio how do you explan the scenario I was just discussing with Grey? In that example, something was said that was thought to violate Canada’s sensativity on a subject. Rather than the rtadio station discussing the issue with the radio show or it’s affiliates, the Canadian broadcaster simply dropped the show with no warning or communication. This same radio show is one of the highest rated in it’s time slot in North America and the same show was played across many United States stations without a single station pulling the show or levying a fine.

So, before you start in with the old “Canadian TV is much more permissive” chestnut at least look at the facts of the issue being discussed and realize that it doesn’t even enter into the discussion.

True perhaps my statement was a little vague on my response to Grey, but since he quoted me directly, and in my response I quoted him, I felt that it was reasonably obvious that I was speaking of radio and that instance not of all of Canada and it’s TV, books, video games, CD’s, newspapers, magazines, cereal box back panels or bubble gum wrappers.

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