Since last week, 5,500 members of the Canadian Media Guild have been locked out by the CBC. The Ceeb wants to be able to hire temps for whatever reason; members of the CMG are uneasy about that, wondering about job security and whathaveyou. There was no agreement on either side…so now, there’s a lockout. Both sides are seemingly willing to negotiate right now; but no one’s going to the table to do so!

I know, one minute, the NHL is under lockout; now it’s CMG members employed by the Ceeb.

The website hasn’t been effected a whole lot; news stories of the day are still being posted.

The main CBC network has–for news programming–been relying on the BBC. Otherwise, there’s not much different. Oh, for the last CFL game they aired, there was no commentary besides the stadium announcer. CBC got loads of negative feedback. (I ended up not watching. Couldn’t bring myself to do it. If workers are still locked out when Hockey Night in Canada is supposed to premiere? Well, all I shall say is prepare yourselves, dear readers. It won’t be pretty.)

Newsworld does national news at the top of the hour, but then–like the main network–airs other programming; and then relies on the BBC for the longer news programming.

Radio One, on the other hand, has been supremely effected. No local morning shows. No The Current (a morning current affairs programme). Various line-up staples are re-broadcasts of previous programmes. No regional/local noontime shows. No As It Happens. No CBC Overnight, either–when Radio One airs news programmes from other countries (The Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, South Africa, the UK (BBC stuff, natch), Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and Russia). Instead, music is played during the overnight hours. When Radio One would be airing their 6 pm (local time) national news cast, they air stuff from the BBC (except for Sundays). Radio Two, on the other hand, airs nothing but music all day and night, except for news and weather at the top of the hour from 6 am local to 7 pm local. (If anyone from Newfoundland and Labrador finds themselves here, you know you just add half an hour to the times. ;)) Thankfully, the CBC Radio 3 Podcasts have not been effected. (Update (Oct. 1): As of a few weeks ago, the podcasts have been hosted by a robotic voice. All the regular segments are gone.)

I listen to Radio One quite a bit. I usually go to sleep to CBC Overnight–by this time either programming from the BBC World Service or Deutsche-Welle in Germany is airing; and then wake up to either Information Morning from Fredericton, NB; The Current, or Sounds Like Canada. Now? All of last week, I’ve either popped in a CD or have listened to my iPod.

Speaking of Fredericton, the lockout is effecting the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (which is held in downtown Fredericton) quite a bit.

* Every year, for lord knows how long, on the Friday of the Festival, Information Morning hosts a breakfast at a local farmers’ market to raise money for school music programmes around the Fredericton area. With the lock-out going on, this is–more likely than not, it seems–going to be canceled. (This year’s breakfast is slated for September 16.)

* CBC Radio itself is a major sponsor of the event. They usually provide a big chunk of the publicity for it, and record some of the concerts for future broadcast, not to mention some of the local radio personalities emcee some of the shows. No-go on all of them, due to the lock-out.

Meanwhile, on the national front, Canadian PM Paul Martin refuses to step in. On the other hand, NDP leader Jack Layton called the Liberals out on their long-time neglect of the Ceeb (dating back to when Paul Martin was Finance Minister under Jean Chr�tien); and was seen on the picket line talking to a locked-out employee last week. And here are some more words from NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus, calling on Heritage Minister Liza Frulla to speak out on what’s going on, before going to the picket line in Ottawa to talk to locked-out workers himself. From the Conservatives? Let’s just say Stephen “The Creepy Marionette Doll” Harper has other things on his mind.

CBC Unplugged ~ A compendium of blogs by locked-out employees, plus one main blog. There are also a few Podcasts up there for download–the most recent one from Vancouver.

For Canadians and USicans who miss their CBC and have websites/blogs, Heather has some buttons you can use. You’re encouraged to link said buttons to CBC Unplugged.

CBC On the Line ~ An online mag devoted to the lock-out.

CBCnegotiations.ca ~ The Ceeb’s website on the lock-out.

As for this lowly USican who loves herself some CBC, everyone locked out has my support; and I hope, for everyone’s sake, that this lock-out doesn’t last much longer!

Liberals win the confidence vote.

The vote on the second of two budget bills Thursday evening was deadlocked 152-152, with the Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and one of three Independents opposed.

Speaker Peter Milliken cast the deciding vote, the first time in Canada’s history that a Speaker has broken a parliamentary logjam on a confidence matter.

(Emphasis mine.)

But in reality, the fate of the first minority Parliament in 25 years came down to the support of Independent MP Chuck Cadman.

The cancer-stricken B.C. MP’s vote was the only one in doubt by the time the roll was called, and he sided with the government.

* * * * *

On another note, check this out.