Tim Ralfe
Encyclopedia
Tim Ralfe was a Canadian television journalist
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
who provoked one of the most famous and controversial moments in Canadian political history. During the October Crisis
on October 13, 1970, Ralfe pointedly asked then-Prime Minister Trudeau how far he would go to deal with terrorists. Trudeau responded, "Well, just watch me
". Ralfe continued to question Trudeau about the use of the military to protect cabinet ministers and senior officials in Ottawa. After about 10 minutes, Trudeau shot back: "Well, there are a lot of bleeding hearts around who just don't like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is, go on and bleed, but it is more important to keep law and order in the society than to be worried about weak-kneed people."
Ralfe's persistence was rewarded with condemnation by CBC managers who accused him of being too aggressive during a time of national crisis. Peter Trueman
, executive producer of national television news wrote a message to Ralfe on an open, inter-office teleprinter
link. It said that Ralfe's questioning of Trudeau violated every journalistic standard that Trueman had ever heard of. Trueman ordered severe cuts to the video tape to eliminate Ralfe's most argumentative questions. He also insisted that a formal reprimand be placed on Ralfe's employment file.
Ralfe was a reporter for CTV
when in 1973 he exploited a loophole
in Canadian law that allowed surreptitious recording under certain circumstances. He placed a recording device in the New Democratic Party
caucus
room at Parliament Hill
then confronted party leader David Lewis
with an audio tape of a meeting in that room. The report earned CTV a Michener Award
the following year. Canadian law was later changed to further restrict such recordings.
He died on October 27, 2000 in Ottawa
after suffering a heart attack two weeks before. He was 62 and worked as a consultant
at that time.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
who provoked one of the most famous and controversial moments in Canadian political history. During the October Crisis
October Crisis
The October Crisis was a series of events triggered by two kidnappings of government officials by members of the Front de libération du Québec during October 1970 in the province of Quebec, mainly in the Montreal metropolitan area.The circumstances ultimately culminated in the only peacetime use...
on October 13, 1970, Ralfe pointedly asked then-Prime Minister Trudeau how far he would go to deal with terrorists. Trudeau responded, "Well, just watch me
Just watch me
"Just watch me" is a phrase made famous by Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau on October 13, 1970, during the October crisis. The term is still regularly used in Canadian political discussion....
". Ralfe continued to question Trudeau about the use of the military to protect cabinet ministers and senior officials in Ottawa. After about 10 minutes, Trudeau shot back: "Well, there are a lot of bleeding hearts around who just don't like to see people with helmets and guns. All I can say is, go on and bleed, but it is more important to keep law and order in the society than to be worried about weak-kneed people."
Ralfe's persistence was rewarded with condemnation by CBC managers who accused him of being too aggressive during a time of national crisis. Peter Trueman
Peter Trueman
Peter Trueman, O.C. is a Canadian television and radio personality. He is best known for his work for the Global Television Network between 1974 and July 1988...
, executive producer of national television news wrote a message to Ralfe on an open, inter-office teleprinter
Teleprinter
A teleprinter is a electromechanical typewriter that can be used to communicate typed messages from point to point and point to multipoint over a variety of communication channels that range from a simple electrical connection, such as a pair of wires, to the use of radio and microwave as the...
link. It said that Ralfe's questioning of Trudeau violated every journalistic standard that Trueman had ever heard of. Trueman ordered severe cuts to the video tape to eliminate Ralfe's most argumentative questions. He also insisted that a formal reprimand be placed on Ralfe's employment file.
Ralfe was a reporter for CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
when in 1973 he exploited a loophole
Loophole
A loophole is a weakness that allows a system to be circumvented.Loophole may also refer to:*Arrowslit, a slit in a castle wall*Loophole , a short science fiction story by Arthur C...
in Canadian law that allowed surreptitious recording under certain circumstances. He placed a recording device in the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
room at Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
then confronted party leader David Lewis
David Lewis (politician)
David Lewis, CC was a Russian-born Canadian labour lawyer and social democratic politician. He was national secretary of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1936 to 1950, and one of the key architects of the New Democratic Party in 1961...
with an audio tape of a meeting in that room. The report earned CTV a Michener Award
Michener Award
The Michener Award is one of the highest distinctions in Canadian journalism. The award was founded in 1970 by Roland Michener, who was Governor General of Canada at the time, and his wife Norah...
the following year. Canadian law was later changed to further restrict such recordings.
He died on October 27, 2000 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
after suffering a heart attack two weeks before. He was 62 and worked as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
at that time.