March 30, 2026
Dear CBC and Canadian Press,
Flagging for you that a CP article published on CBC's website about Rima Hassan uses the controversial and loaded term "far-left" to describe her political party, La France Insoumise.
By using this word, CP is effectively choosing a side in the polarizing debate in France, adopting the language of the party's critics.
La France Insoumise was once classified as "left-wing" in France, but was recently reclassified as "far left" by the Minister of the Interior in February 2026. The decision was a controversial one. According to a French poll, about 70% think labelling the party as "far left" is justified, while 30% think it is not. Again, by using the term, CP is picking a side.
I'll get out ahead of this aspect of the issue: A past Ombudsman review by Jack Nagler dealt with the term "far right" and it was not entirely decisive in terms of whether it violates the JSP. But the term "far left" is more complicated in any case.
What does "far right" mean? Most would immediately think of the politics of unregulated free markets, authoritarian modes of government like fascism, and anti-immigrant policies like Xenophobia.
What does "far left" mean? All Sides attempts to define it (problematically), but they highlight anarchism and communism, which are not the ideologies that drive La France Insoumise. It's a democratic socialist party, not all that dissimilar from the NDP.
I think using the phrase constitutes editorializing, and violates the JSP's standard of impartiality.
Ultimately, in the context of this piece, it reads as a smear on Hassan.
I hope CBC will consider editing the version of the story on its website. I plan on contacting CP separately.
Best,
Jason Toney
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