The Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets, and Successes Inside the CBC by Richard Stursberg (Douglas & MacIntyre, 2012). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Tower of Babble

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

That the CBC is Canada’s largest and most important cultural institution is without question. Whether it’s relevant and subsequently useful is something that’s always debated by Canadians wherever they are on the political spectrum. A new book has put the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation into focus, The Tower of Babble: Sins, Secrets, and Successes Inside the CBC. In a way this book validates how one feels about the CBC, whether you wish its demise, or whether you will its survival. Richard Stursberg is the book’s author. He is the former head of CBC’s English services, overseeing television and radio. He was once executive director of Telefilm Canada. He chaired the Canadian Television Fund, was CEO of Star Choice, and was president of the Canadian Cable Television Association. He was in government too, serving as assistant deputy minister for culture and broadcasting. He was at the CBC from 2004 until 2010. We’ll ask him about his experience at the CBC, his successes and some of the failures. It’s a great view onto this institution we either love or loath. The book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. It’s candid and telling. The website for more is at www.towerofbabble.ca. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Vancouver today, Richard Stursberg; Mr. Stursberg, good morning.

Bring Me One of Everything by Leslie Hall Pinder. (Grey Swan, 2012) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Bring Me One of Everything

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Described by Margaret Atwood as ‘a writer of great talent and sensitivity,’ Leslie Hall Pinder joins me now to talk about her latest novel, her third, Bring Me One of Everything. The novel takes Native history in this part of the world, and Ms. Pinder’s experience in law, and she weaves a story that’s described as an eloquent tale of suspense and intrigue. We’ll get Ms. Pinder to tell us about the book, who the characters are, and what drew her to write this book. An anthropologist, Austin Hart, who salvages the artistic remains of the Haida people in British Columbia, kills himself. Years later, another character, Alicia Purcell is commissioned to write the libretto for an opera based on Hart’s life. She’s got her own issues and those are borne out in the book, including her relationship with her mother Sophie. Leslie Hall Pender is a retired attorney, who practiced in her own firm, pursuing land claims on behalf of Native clients. She previously wrote two novels, Under the House, and On Double Tracks, which was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award in 1990. The websites for more are at www.lesliehallpinder.com, and www.bringmeoneofeverything.com. The book is published by Grey Swan Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Leslie Hall Pinder; Ms. Pinder, good morning.

King: William Lyon Mackenzie King, A Life Guided By the Hand of Destiny by Allan Levine. (Douglas & McIntyre, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: King

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The author and historian Allan Levine joins me now. His latest book published last fall was the comprehensive, accessible and highly readable King: William Lyon Mackenzie King, A Life Guided By the Hand of Destiny. It’s the first major biography on King in more than 30 years, and it brings to life this complicated, accomplished, fascinating man. King was born in 1874, and dies 75 years later in 1950. He was a lawyer, civil servant, and politician who went on to become Canada’s tenth prime minister serving a total 22 years, first defeating Arthur Meighen in 1921, and replacing Meighen again following the King-Byng Affair. He loses to R.B. Bennett in 1930, and replaces Bennett five years later, serving until 1948. It’s impossible in the few minutes we have with Mr. Levine to go over King’s life, but he does such a fine job in just over 500 pages telling us about King in this book. We’ll ask him how he got to writing it, what’s in the book, and more. Allan Levine has written 11 books, including the award winning Coming of Age, and one of my favourites Scrum Wars. His website is at www.allanlevinebooks.com. He joins me from Winnipeg this day, where he teaches history. The book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Allan Levine; Mr. Levine, good morning.

The Enemy Within: Terror, Lies and the Whitewashing of Omar Khadr by Ezra Levant. (McClelland & Stewart, 2012) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Enemy Within

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Once again I’m joined by Ezra Levant. The lawyer, political activist, journalist and television personality on the Sun News Network has a new book out, The Enemy Within: Terror, Lies and the Whitewashing of Omar Khadr. Like his previous books Shakedown and Ethical Oil, it’s already a bestseller, and also a strident, timely book. Omar Khadr has been held at Guantanamo Bay since October 2002, when at the age of 15 he was accused of killing a US sergeant in Afghanistan. His lawyers, as well as his defenders in Canada, his family and certain members of the press have argued that he’s a child soldier and a victim. He struck a plea deal where he will be able to serve part of his sentence in Canada. Not if Mr. Levant has his way. In the book he argues that Khadr, now 25 has become more radicalised in prison, that he’s not disavowed the hateful, terrorist views he holds. We’ll get Mr. Levant to tell us about what’s gone on with Khadr, what the chances are of his return to Canada, and what he’s doing and suggesting others ought to do to prevent that from happening. It’s a timely book, as I’ve said, and it looks at how we view immigration, terrorism, the law, and our relationship with the United States. The book is published by McClelland & Stewart. Ezra’s website is at www.ezralevant.com. And his show, The Source with Ezra Levant is on nightly on Sun News, that’s on here on this coast at 2.00pm, 5.00pm Eastern. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Ezra Levant; Mr. Levant, good morning.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The filmmaker Kagan Goh joins me now. His personal film Stolen Memories is having its world television premiere this Sunday, 04 March 2012 on Omni Television. I’ve seen a bit of the documentary already, and it’s a fascinating, moving film about this photo album that Mr. Goh seeks to return to a Japanese Canadian family who’d lost it during the internment of the Second World War. The effort he goes through, as well as the people he encounters along the way, helpful and supportive, and not-so helpful and not-so supportive is interesting to watch as it reflects and illuminates the cultures involved—Japanese, Japanese Canadian, Canadian, Chinese—and the history and times—the war time period of internment, and the confluence of all that in the 15 years it took to make this movie. The film airs in BC, Alberta and Ontario on OMNI this Sunday at 9.00pm, which is channel 8 here in Vancouver. If you’re in Vancouver, Mr. Goh will be hosting a premiere presentation beginning at 7.30pm at the W2 Media Café at 111 West Hastings, where he’ll do a Q&A as well. Admission is by donation. Visit www.stolenmemoriesmovie.com for more information. Kagan Goh is a filmmaker who studied film at Ryerson. His documentary Mind Fuck won several awards. He was born in Singapore and lives here in Vancouver. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Kagan Goh; Mr. Goh, good morning.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

It’s Freedom to Read week once again, and joining me now is Franklin Carter. He was on last year to talk about his work with the Book and Periodical Council and its Freedom of Expression Committee, and does the same this year. We’ll talk about what this week is all about, what we can do as readers and citizens. It’s also interesting to see what challenges writers, editors, and publishers might have. As well, we can highlight some of the events of the week. www.freedomtoread.ca is the website for more. Franklin Carter, for over 15 years now, has been handling and researching censorship issues for the Council’s committee. He is a freelance editor, working with non-fiction writers and publishers in Canada. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, in Toronto this day, Franklin Carter; Good morning, Mr. Carter.

Nation Maker—Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times by Richard Gwyn. (Random House, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Nation Maker

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

In 2007, Richard Gwyn published the first volume of his biography of Sir John A. Macdonald—John A. The Man Who Made Us. He was on this program in the fall of that year to discuss the book, as he is now to discuss the second volume, Nation Maker—Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times. It was published this past fall to great acclaim and many plaudits. The years covered in this book are 1867, the year of our Confederation, to 1891, the year of his death. The gift Mr. Gwyn has is he tells people stories well. He makes Macdonald’s life come alive on the page. The events of history are illustrated vividly and made understandable and accessible. The issues surrounding our founding, the scandals and controversies are parsed and analysed with the hindsight of time and the context of contemporary references. It is a wonderful read, and an absolutely important book. Richard Gwyn is an award winning author and political columnist. He wrote widely praised biographies of Pierre Trudeau and Joey Smallwood. And his book Nationalism Without Walls, one of my favourite books ever, was selected by the Literary Review of Canada as one of the 100 most important books about the country. www.richardjgwyn.ca is the website for more. Nation Maker is published by Random House. I’m very pleased to welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Richard Gwyn; Good morning, Mr. Gwyn.

100 Days That Changed Canada by Mark Reid. (HarperCollins Canada, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: 100 Days That Changed Canada

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Mark Reid joins me again. He is the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Canada’s History, formerly The Beaver. He’s the editor of a new book, another great book of Canadian history: 100 Days That Changed Canada. Selected therein are 100 dates that by virtue of the events of the day, the people involved, and more, truly shaped this country. There are obvious dates included like 01 July 1867, but there are dates in here like 02 September 1972, which is the first game of the Summit Series between Team Canada and the Soviets, and not the 28th of September the final game. The essay by Ken Dryden makes the case for the 2nd of September. That’s what Mr. Reid has done, gathered noted contributors to write about each date. Some of the contributors include Peter Mansbridge, Adrienne Clarkson, Bob Rae, J.L. Granatstein, Peter C. Newman, Rona Maynard, Conrad Black, and Margaret Wente. We’ll talk about how this book came about and about the dates that truly changed this country. Mark Reid was last on for the book, 100 Photos That Changed Canada. This book now is fine companion to that book, and is the beginning of a great conversation on history, our country, what’s in this book, and why, as well as what’s not in the book. 100 Days That Changed Canada is published by HarperCollins. www.canadashistory.ca is the website for more. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Mark Reid; Good morning, Mr. Reid.

Bob Lenarduzzi: A Canadian Soccer Story by Bob Lenarduzzi and Jim Taylor. (Harbour Publishing, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Bob Lenarduzzi: A Canadian Soccer Story

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Once again, Jim Taylor joins me. The legendary sports writer is out with a new book. He co-wrote Bob Lenarduzzi: A Canadian Soccer Story, with you guessed it, Bob Lenarduzzi. We get a great view on soccer, Canadian soccer, Mr. Lenarduzzi’s career on and off the field, and stories of the many colourful characters encountered along the way. Bob Lenarduzzi was a successful soccer player, winning a North American Soccer League Championship with the Whitecaps, he coached the Vancouver 86ers, and is now president of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the seventeenth club in Major League Soccer. Jim Taylor was around for a lot of those days. Lenarduzzi was 19 when they met. He covered him and wrote about his exploits in his noted columns in papers here and across the country. We’ll get Jim to tell us about this book, which is from Harbour Publishing, why we should read it, and what it was like looking back with Lenarduzzi. Jim Taylor has written thousands of columns, he’s done three times as many radio broadcasts and written over a dozen books. He’s in the CFL and BC Sports Halls of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sports Media Canada. Last year he received the Bruce Hutchison Award from the Jack Webster Foundation. We could go on with the superlatives. He’s always a welcome guest on this program. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Jim Taylor; Good morning, Mr. Taylor.

Where There’s Smoke. . . Musings of A Cigarette Smoking Man by William B. Davis. (ECW Press, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Where There’s Smoke

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

The title of the book evokes my next guest’s most famous, iconic role in television, that of the Cigarette Smoking Man or Cancer Man on The X-Files. It’s the role he’s well known for, for better and worse. The book however is more than just a dishy memoir of his years on the science fiction series that was initially shot here in Vancouver. The book discusses the life of William B. Davis, from his upbringing in Ontario, to the development of Canadian theatre in the 1950s and 1960s, his time in the British theatre encountering people like Laurence Olivier and Albert Finney, to his time back in Canada working in Toronto and here in Vancouver, up to his role on The X-Files. It’s a compelling read, as he’s candid about himself, and he’s insightful about his craft, acting in the theatre and on television. He’s perhaps too honest when it comes to discussion of his personal life, his sex life especially, but one wonders what his lovers think. It’s a fascinating and most enjoyable read. The book is called Where There’s Smoke. . . Musings of A Cigarette Smoking Man. It’s published by ECW Press. The website for more is at www.williambdavis.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, William Davis; Good morning, Mr. Davis.