This is good because it opens the door to advertising that goes against the consumerist grain.

This is very bad because it limits the rights of people and businesses to choose who they do business with. Imagine being forced to run an advertisement from the KKK or the NRA or any other social group you disagree with. Imagine a pro-immigration website being forced to run anti-immigration advertisements. Whichever "social causes" have the most financial backing will control all advertising on all outlets--worse than what is already happening now.

These companies have a government-approved oligopoly on the public airwaves, and make big money with it. It is not unreasonable to say that first amendment rights extend to the public airwaves, even if access happens to be managed by a private corporation. And yes, that would by inference mean that the KKK or NRA could run ads, too. You can't have free speech for only the speech you like.

I agree with point #2, but this is public television they're arguing about, right?

Not quite public television, but public airwaves. Well to be honest I don't quite know where the CBC fits in that spectrum. Regardless, broadcasters are just licensing the public airwaves, they don't own them.

There is not slippery slope here, though. Fears about freedom of web advertising are unfounded. The airwaves are a scarce resource: there's only so many available frequencies. That's why the government regulates their use. Websites are not limited in any way, neither are cable television channels, so those media do not need to be regulated.

This is great news. I know how frustrating and difficult it can be to get the right message out if you are a social activist.

It is not about the money. My organisation (wpirg.org) has the money to spend on a quality advertising when it's warranted. We're generally limited to the newspaper. Public television likes to stay away from anything contraversial. Why lose viewers if you don't have to?

Fortunately for us, the airwaves are public assets meant to contribute to the wellbeing of the citizens first and foremost. Companies like CBC and Global are bound by that requirement. Since the government fell short on enforcing the public interest it ends up in the hands of Canadian communities to get the job done -> which is why access to public advertising is so important in the first place!

Can't wait for the first public Canadian Adbusters ad!

Imagine if this was happening on the internet -- your ISP refusing to allow certain websites. It is amazing how long this has gone on.