EDITORIAL: What would they say if we sang out of tune?
· Toronto Sun
The ongoing efforts of Prime Minister Mark Carney to Europeanize Canada took another step forward recently, with a vote by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to make the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) a full member of its organization.
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That paved the way for this country to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Announcing Canada’s participation, CBC President Marie-Philippe Bouchard said it would allow “Canadian talent to be showcased in one of the most storied music stages in the world.”
It may sound like a happy-clappy kumbaya moment, with Canadian songbirds competing with their European counterparts in a friendly singalong. That’s unlikely to happen. Since its inception in 1956, the contest has been used to send divisive political and cultural messages. In 1969, Austria withdrew from the contest, held in Madrid, to protest the authoritarian government of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.
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Countries outside Europe are allowed to compete if they are members of the EBU. Israel and Australia are both members. In 2024, Israel’s inclusion in the contest triggered massive protests in Sweden. This year, state broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia withdrew to protest Israel’s inclusion in the contest. Russia started its own contest after being ousted from the contest over its attack on Ukraine.
There are frequent claims of bias in the voting, with countries forming regional voting blocs. And there have been cultural clashes, with conservative countries such as Belarus and Russia balking at Eurovision’s often extravagantly campy performances. If there’s a wedge issue to be exploited, Eurovision has done it.
That’s the morass Canada is getting itself into. And Carney has budgeted $150 million for us to participate.
Of course, our own domestic spats will kick in. Will we choose our entrant based purely on talent, or will the Canadian performer be required to sing in both French and English? Forget Eurovision judges; we have a Supreme Court that will likely weigh in and say, “Yes.”
Canadian performers have taken part in previous Eurovision contests under flags of convenience. In 1988, Celine Dion won while competing for Switzerland. Does that disqualify her from singing for Canada?
First, there was speculation that Canada could join the European Union. Now we’re singing from their songbook.
Our entry will be organized by the CBC. What could possibly go wrong?