I just listened to your interview with filmmaker Ric Esther Bienstock (Apr 22, 2026). This was a day after I watched her Speechless documentary. There is a blatant flaw in Speechless; an elephant in the room; it is completely absent any Canadian content. Viewers may watch this documentary and conclude the issues it lays out are uniquely American, with a small side in the UK. Just another example of that crazy, uniquely American social unrest.
1. Yes, in a way it’s surprising that the CBC produced this. But I’m a hard-wired CBC sceptic. So much of what they do often feels politically manipulative. Was this a token nod to the anti-woke (pro-defund) crowd so the CBC can ‘check a box’ that shows how balanced their content is?
2. Almost no Americans will watch this doc. Yet the content is primarily US-focused. Canadians will watch it and fail to connect the dots that these issues have (and still do) happen here. Examples abound, and they’re just as insane. And that’s why I have a serious problem with the doc.
3. My bet is the CBC said “no Canadian content or we’re out.” In your interview with Ms Bienstock she alludes to the difficult discussions she had with the CBC. Is this documentary actually the MOST IRONIC EXAMPLE of censorship ever?
4. Why did you not ask Ms Bienstock about the screaming lack of Canadian content?
How about Francis Widdowson’s cancellation from Mount Royal College for the “crime” of questioning the Kamloops residential school mass graves story? Mount Royal argued that she was harassing colleagues but her union and the Canadian Association of University Teachers had argued the firing breached academic freedom. As touchy as a story gets in Canada today. Too touchy for the CBC?
How about Jordan Peterson’s continuing persecution over his refusal to bow down to compelled speech dictates regarding made-up pronouns at the University of Toronto? One can well imagine dart boards with Peterson’s picture on them in the games rooms at CBC headquarters. Can’t show him any sympathy.
How about Margaret Munn, a Scottish international student at the University of Western Ontario in 2022? Her ‘crime’ was asking her professor what was meant by ‘decolonization’ and how it translated practically to the business of teaching children math, chemistry and other subjects. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee recommended her removal, arguing her views made the program "unsafe".
How about the tragic story of Richard Bilkszto, a school principal with the Toronto School Board? I’m certain you know his story. Probably more tragic and disturbing than any of those stories in the Speechless documentary. I’m sure the CBC would prefer that everybody just forget about poor Richard Bilkszto and the connection between his suicide to DEI ideology and forced compliance.
Matt and Nicole Alexander; Ontario teachers fired for not holding approved opinions about gender ideology or pride flags. Their union refused to represent them.
Jim Mcmurtry; former Abbotsford teacher fired for critical views regarding residential schools mass graves.
Violet Shearer; a music teacher who worked for the Toronto District School Board for nearly 30 years. In 2016 she led a performance of elementary students that included a song she chose called “Land of the Silver Birch”. Because of this song, which was wrongly branded as racist, Ms. Shearer was shamed and denounced. She commenced a defamation lawsuit against her employer, fighting for over 8.5 years to clear her reputation.
And on, and on, and on and on. I don’t consider Speechless so much an example of the CBC stepping bravely out of its woke-focused bubble. I think it underscores their ongoing fealty to the Canadian political left and illiberal ideologies that still infect our Canadian institutions, especially in academia and education. A true Canadian story of this nature would be a bridge too far for the terminally woke CBC.
Why didn’t you ask Ms Bienstock when she was going to produce a Canadian version of her documentary for Canadian audiences?
