Donald Trump ditched by NBC

NBC is cutting ties with Donald Trump over "recent derogatory statements" that the veteran businessman made about immigrants, the BBC reports.

NBC said the company would now not be airing the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants that are co-owned by Mr Trump.
Responding to the announcement, Mr Trump said he would consider suing NBC.
Earlier this month, he accused Mexicans of adding drugs and crime to the US as he announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
"They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some I assume are good people, but I speak to border guards, and they tell us what we are getting," he said in his speech on 16 June.

He also pledged to build a "great wall" on the US border with Mexico and insisted it would be paid for by Mexicans.
He later insisted he was criticising US lawmakers, not Mexican people.

High profile Radio Canada journalist Isabelle Richer seriously injured in bike accident

Isabelle Richer

The popular Radio Canada journalist Isabelle Richer was seriously injured on Saturday when she collided with a truck in in the town of Rougemont. Doctors are optimistic about her recovery. A post about the story says she was saved by wearing a helmet.
Richer joined Radio Canada in 1998. She covers courts in Montreal and has reported on many high profile trials.

Link to the Radio Canada story (in French)

Kathleen Wynne says she’ll sign waivers to allow documentary’s release

The Star's Jacques Gallant writes:

"Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday she expects to soon sign release forms that will enable some version of a controversial documentary about her to be broadcast.

“We have wanted this documentary to be released,” she said, adding her 'motivation' for participating was that she wanted to show Ontarians the inner working of their government and that she is not trying to exert editorial control over the project.

"She said she expects to sign the waivers as early as next week, saying she has not seen the footage.

"The original documentary that was set to air on TVOntario was to offer a behind-the-scenes look at "Wynne and her government in the lead-up to the 2015 provincial budget. It hit a roadblock last month after director Roxana Spicer quit the project in protest after Wynne’s office refused to sign release forms."

 Full story

TVO issues statement regarding Wynne documentary

In a release via Canada News Wire, TVO said:
In its notification to White Pine Pictures, TVO noted that:

• A completed documentary with a director attached to the project was not delivered. Director Roxana Spicer formally resigned in writing from the White Pine Pictures' project. The lack of a director is a fundamental deficiency for a documentary production;
• A documentary consistent with TVO's journalistic standards for editorial integrity, independence and quality, as required by the Agreement, was not delivered;
• A documentary fully cleared as required by the Agreement was not delivered. As White Pine Pictures informed TVO, signed access agreements and accompanying releases for several figures who participated were not obtained;
• A documentary with Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance as required by the Agreement was not delivered. White Pine Pictures informed TVO that it would not be seeking E&O insurance without the signed access agreements and accompanying releases, and;
• A finished documentary which met the terms of our Agreement in a timely manner to allow for our scheduled air date as agreed was not delivered. 

White Pine Pictures continues to be the owner of the content of the project. TVO does not have copies of the project in our possession.
As part of TVO's broadcast license, TVO is required to operate independently and at arm's length from government and to exercise full editorial independence. This requirement is strictly adhered to in all cases.
Link to full text of TVO statement

The Star's Robert Benzie views and reports on Wynne documentary

The Star's Robert Benzie viewed the one-hour film on which the Premier won't sign off and, therefore, can't be shown on TVOntario.
He writes:
"It is a one-hour documentary ‎entitled, Premier: The Unscripted Kathleen Wynne‎, that was supposed to air on TVOntario earlier this month — before it was yanked. . . .
"She also dispenses campaign advice to a wide-eyed federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and, with help from spouse Jane Rounthwaite, artfully smacks down a Progressive Conservative MPP for homophobic comments.
"Indeed, some of the film’s most illuminating moments are of Wynne and Rounthwaite in their Toronto home.
"Their marriage is one of loving, equal partners who share a puckish sense of humour, a passion for politics, and a quaint affinity for the 1950s sit-com I Love Lucy."
The whole story and clip