Oct. 30, 2009
On Oct. 29, we reported on the death of Chuck Biscuits, the former D.O.A. and Danzig drummer, which turned out to be a hoax. The B.C.-born drummer's brother confirmed a day later that Biscuits, whose real name is Charles Montgomery, is healthy and living in Seattle.
We ran a number of stories in October 2009 about the broadband industry, and it was reported that a study funded by the nation's biggest ISPs found that Canada is a world broadband leader by "every" measure. In fact, the study found that Canada is a world broadband leader in four key areas of comparison: availability, user adoption, speed and price.
May 27, 2009
A story published May 25 about Ruth Padel's resignation as Oxford University's first female professor of poetry originally said Padel admitted to sending anonymous letter to Oxford University academics documenting sexual harassment allegations against her chief rival for the post. In fact, Padel did not say she sent the letters; she acknowledged that she had emailed journalists to draw attention to the sexual harassment allegations.
May 7, 2009
A story published on May 15, 2008, about trees that were cut down in Toronto's Mossgrove Park originally quoted a member of the Toronto police force as saying the force wanted the trees trimmed, not cut down. Although the officer is a senior member of the force, CBC News later learned that he was misinformed.
May 5, 2009
A story published May 5 about a Rogers Wireless plan to charge for incoming text messages originally said the charges would apply to all customers without unlimited text plans. In fact, the charges would only apply to customers who didn't have a text plan; Rogers does not plan to charge customers who have text plans, regardless of whether those plans are unlimited.
April 28, 2009
A story published on April 28 originally said the Charlottetown Festival would be doing a tour that would include at least one international stop. In fact, the summer theatre festival plans to bring in a new international show to headline an extended season.
April 9, 2009
A story published on April 3 about a UN probe originally said it would investigate alleged Israeli war crimes during a three-week conflict with Hamas that ended Jan. 18, 2009. In fact, according to the head of the probe, Richard Goldstone, the team was to investigate "all violations of international humanitarian law" before, during and after the conflict, including allegations against Israelis in the Gaza Strip and allegations against Palestinians in southern Israel.
March 27, 2009
A story published on March 26 about an inquiry into the 2007 death of a man jolted by Tasers at Vancouver International Airport originally said paramedic Allan Maciak criticized the RCMP for not reacting immediately to Robert Dziekanski's cyanotic condition. In fact, Maciak criticized firefighters who arrived at the scene before him for not reacting to Dziekanski's condition. As well, Maciak testified Dziekanski appeared to have lost control of his bladder, not his bowels, as originally reported.
March 23, 2009
A story published on Feb. 27 about a Holocaust-denying bishop's apology originally described Richard Williamson as a Roman Catholic bishop. In fact, Williamson belongs to the Society of St. Pius X, an ultraconservative religious order estranged from the Roman Catholic Church. In January, Pope Benedict XVI had lifted excommunications of Williamson and three other bishops from the order. However, the Vatican said it would not allow Williamson to serve as a clergyman in the Roman Catholic Church unless he made a full and public recanting of his comments denying the scale of the Holocaust.
March 24, 2009
A story published March 1 about Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon's visit to the Mideast initially said former British prime minister Tony Blair had visited the town of Beit Hanoun and that a UN school had come under Israeli fire there.
- In fact, Blair did not visit Beit Hanoun; he visited the nearby town of Beit Lahiya in the Izbet Beit Hanoun area of the northern Gaza Strip.
- The UN Boys School that Blair visited in Beit Lahiya did not come under Israeli fire.
- It was the American International School in Beit Lahiya that came under Israeli fire and where a caretaker was killed. The Israeli military said the campus was a legitimate target since it was used to fire rockets.
March 12, 2009
Two stories published on March 11 initially gave the impression that oilsands giant Suncor and two of its contractors were each charged in 2008 with 90 counts in connection with alleged waste water dumping into the Athabasca River in northern Alberta and providing false or misleading information to the province about it. In fact, Suncor and Compass Group were charged with 43 counts each under Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act in February 2008. Only the treatment plant operator, Rodney McCabe, and his company, R&D McCabe Ltd., were charged with 90 counts each. CBCNews.ca learned after initial publication that, according to Alberta Environment, the charges against Suncor and Compass Group had later been reduced to one each. As of March 11, Suncor faced one charge of exceeding approved limits and Compass Group faced a charge of failing to report exceeding approved limits. Similarly, CBCNews.ca learned after the initial publication that McCabe and his company eventually pleaded guilty to six charges: two charges of giving false and misleading information, two charges of failing to report and two charges of exceeding approved limits. The government also initially alleged that undertreated waste water was dumped into the Athabasca River for about two years, not more than two years, as initially reported.
March 5, 2009
A story published March 9 about an Ontario Special Investigations Unit investigation of a crash involving police originally said someone was killed in the accident. In fact, there were no fatalities although several people were injured.
March 11, 2009
A story published Jan. 30, 2009, about a New Brunswick school's decision to stop having students sing O Canada every morning may have given the impression that the school's principal had banned the anthem entirely. In fact, the principal still allowed students to sing the anthem at monthly assemblies and other special events.
Feb. 26, 2009
A story published Feb. 26 about a Montreal couple who were lost for days in B.C.'s backcountry originally said the pair used their skis to fight off wolves. In fact, they did not physically battle wolves. However, wolves came "very close" to the skiers and frightened the man who survived so much that he cut the basket off the bottom of his ski pole so he could defend himself, according to his brother, Yvon Blackburn.
Feb. 25, 2009
A story published Feb. 25 about 150 fraud-related charges laid in Toronto originally said police alleged the credit-card information was stolen from clients at the Elmwood Spa in Yorkville. In fact, the spa is not in the Yorkville neighbourhood.
Feb. 24, 2009
A story published Nov. 21, 2008, about drug trafficking charges laid against Valentino (Nino) Pollastrini originally said Pollastrini was the owner of Giovanni's Restaurant in Ottawa. In fact, Pollastrini was an employee at the restaurant.
Feb. 19, 2009
A story published Feb. 18 about the border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip originally said roughly 3,000 Palestinians were killed in a conflict between Israel and Hamas in late 2008 and early 2009. In fact, about 1,300 Palestinians died in the conflict.
Feb. 12, 2009
A story published on Feb. 11 about a Winnipeg man accused of theft and fraud originally may have given some readers the impression that Daryl Cote is a First Nations man. To clarify, although Cote is a former co-manager of Dauphin River First Nation and former CEO of Anishinaabe Mino-Ayaawin Inc., he is not a First Nations man.
Feb. 10, 2009
A story published Feb. 10 about a parliamentary election in Israel originally said the country warred with Lebanon in 2006. In fact, Israel invaded southern Lebanon in 2006 in a 34-day conflict with Hezbollah militants who were based there.
Feb. 6, 2009
A story published Feb. 5 about an investigation by Alberta Environment originally may have given the impression that 348,000 litres of oil and grease leaked into the Athabasca River from a Suncor oilsands development north of Fort McMurray, Alta. To clarify, 348,000 litres of treated water were discharged into the river as part of normal operations at the development. However, some of that water contained higher-than-permitted levels of hydrocarbons — up to 42 parts per million, while the maximum under Alberta regulations is five parts per million.
Feb. 4, 2009
A story published Feb. 3 originally said the federal Indian Northern Affairs Department estimated spending on mineral exploration in Nunavut had dropped to $30 million in 2008. In fact, the department said the spending had dropped by about $30 million from the previous year, to about $300 million in 2008.
Feb. 4, 2009
A story published Feb. 3 about food recalls originally said Ocean Spray's cranberry fruit and nut trail mix was recalled in Canada. In fact, the product has not been recalled, although the Canadian Food Inspection Agency incorrectly included it on a recall list. However, Ocean Spray's 170-gram Nut Trail Mix package was recalled.
Feb. 3, 2009
A story published on Sept. 12, 2008, about the Nina Courtepatte slaying in Edmonton originally said a fifth person charged in the case was acquitted. In fact, the individual, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault in July 2008. She was acquitted of kidnapping.
Jan. 26, 2009
A story published Jan. 26 about ING Group of the Netherlands originally said the global bank and insurer would book a fourth-quarter loss of about $52 billion. In fact, the company was predicting a loss of $5.2 billion.
Jan. 20, 2009
A story published Jan. 20 about the OC Transpo strike originally reported the union blamed the labour dispute for the fact that many buses hadn't been regularly inspected, resulting in warranties being voided. In fact, according to the union, these conditions existed before the strike.
Jan. 16 and Jan. 19, 2009
Two stories – published on Jan. 16 and Jan. 19 – about outside consultants hired by Business New Brunswick originally said about 50 people in the department's investment and export development wing do investment work. In fact, while there are about 50 employees in the wing, only 14 of them focus on investments.
Jan. 13, 2009
A story published Jan. 12 about Ottawa's transit strike originally reported Coun. Clive Doucet said the city expected ridership to be lower after the labour dispute ended. In fact, Coun. Alex Cullen made the comment.
Jan. 12, 2009
A story published Jan. 9 about a Canadian journalist kidnapped in Pakistan originally said the abductors were demanding $1.5 million in ransom. In fact, they were asking for $150,000.
CBC News Online welcomes comments, suggestions and any information about errors that call for correction. Messages may be e-mailed to letters@cbc.ca
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