Peter Mansbridge, of the National, reported on the Continental Shelf issue South of the islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon in a misleading and inflammatory manner (May 12, 2009 : 19:00 to 19:34). Using incorrect graphics, the newscaster displayed a complete lack of objectivity by qualifying the French claim as a “threat”. Such inflammatory rhetoric has no other purpose but to stir public opinion against the islands and France.

An approximate transcript of the commentary by Peter Mansbridge : “An update on that international dustup over the seabed off of Newfoundland. France has made good on its threat and filed letter of intent with the United Nations., laying claim to a vast energy rich section of ocean. France says its rights extend beyond the 200 nautical mile mark of its territory Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It wants its boundary to extend all the way to the continental shelf. Canada maintains the dispute was settled years ago by the international court of arbitration. “

The graphic used in the newscast would lead anyone to believe France and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon want to rescind the 1992 arbitration, yet there is nothing in the documents filed by France that makes any such claim.

• French letter of intent (pdf)
• French preliminary supporting documents (pdf)

Le 13 May, 2009 - 05:01 TU - Classement : News and information, continental shelf -

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