Our Public Airwaves - 22 Minutes ousted from Hill scrums

Our Public Airwaves - 22 Minutes ousted from Hill scrums: "When all the parliamentarians came into the foyer of the House of Commons, pontificating and critiquing yesterday's mini-budget in front of reporters, one microphone not present was the one belonging to This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Normally, the CBC-TV satire might have been on the scene to catch such pure comedy.

But during the current session of Parliament, the show has been refused its usual temporary press badge to the scrums. Normally the show's producers have no problem getting day passes from Parliament Hill's press gallery, the office which issues the official accreditation.

However, this season, This Hour Has 22 Minutes has been rebuked, not because of any particular segment that may have offended a prime minister here, a cabinet minister there, or caucus members everywhere.

No, This Hour producers say they can't get their usual credentials because of another show, Radio-Canada's satirical TV program Au-del� du R�al.

The press gallery became much more reluctant to hand out accreditation for non-news shows after an incident involving a crew from Au-del� du R�al this past summer. When the crew showed up on Parliament Hill one day, the host of the show didn't have his correct name on his pass. Security guards recognized him, noticed his credential didn't have his correct name and ejected them"