CTV was out of line when it aired three false starts of an interview with Stéphane Dion during the election campaign last fall, says the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, which in a recent ruling sided with the former Liberal leader. CBSC ruled that airing the false starts was ‘discourteous and inconsiderate’ because CTV had indicated to Dion that it would not air them, and it violated ethical codes of the CAB and RTNDA.

The situation unfolded after Halifax anchor Steve Murphy asked: ‘If you were prime minister now, what would you have done about the economy and this crisis that Mr. Harper has not done?’ Dion asked to restart the interview three times – a request granted by Murphy – because he didn’t understand the ‘poorly framed question,’ said the CBSC.

The false starts were broadcast five days before the Oct. 14 election by Murphy and again later on the CTV Newsnet public affairs show Mike Duffy Live.

CTV defended the move, saying it was important for voters to see how Dion handled himself in such situations. CTV News president Robert Hurst said in a statement that he was ‘disappointed’ by the decision.