What's with the news blackout?

[yvr girl]

They had changed that prior to the last election. Why did they change it back?

[Manix]

1. ...according to the CBC website......

"This is different than the last federal election. In June 2004, all Canadian media organizations – including CBC.ca – were legally allowed to publish results across the country as soon as they became available. That's because the B.C. Supreme Court, prior to that election, had struck down the results ban.

But in May 2005, the B.C. Court of Appeal reversed the lower court's decision and upheld the ban. A group of news companies, including the CBC, filed a motion earlier this month asking the Supreme Court of Canada to suspend the ban for this election, until an appeal of the reversal could be heard. The court rejected that motion, so the ban stands. The Supreme Court of Canada will probably rule on the appeal before the next federal election."

[CanuckAmok]

2. I agree with the blackout.

It's true that early results influence people's voting patterns. And with so many people voting "strategically" this time, the less outside influence, the better.

[IntravenousDemilo]

3. The thing of it is, though...

that with US websites like, say, Democratic Underground and Freeptard Central disseminating the latest information, a news blackout becomes rather academic and unenforceable.

[CanuckAmok]

4. yeah, I guess, but....

It's the same as the Buffalo NY papers publishing details of the Homolka/Bernardo case during the Canada-wide media ban. The information is there for those who really want to make the effort, but so few do that it doesn't really affect anything.