Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
Opinion
Politics
BC Politics

The Christmas Letters: Santa Explains

Leaked emails expose service complaints from constituents.

Steve Burgess 25 Dec 2014TheTyee.ca

Steve Burgess writes about politics and culture for The Tyee. Find his previous articles here.
image atom
The Tyee is not at liberty to divulge how these emails came into our possession. Illustration by Nora B. Kelly.

Steve Burgess recently received a trove of leaked holiday emails. The Tyee feels it must publish them as a public service.

This final one comes from Mr. Claus himself. It seems that on those occasions when Santa cannot fulfil the requests he has received, he offers letters of explanation. The following are Santa's notes to various people who were disappointed on Christmas morning:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

We here at the North Pole were a little disappointed in you, Prime Minister. Normally we are pleased to see people using their letters to Santa to request Christmas surprises for others rather than themselves. But wishing someone a bad haircut and a terrible case of acne is the sort of thing we expect from bratty kid brothers rather than national leaders. Mr. Trudeau's personal grooming will remain his own business. As to the other matter you mentioned, it is not the policy of our organization to engage in military manoeuvres in order to intimidate President Putin or any other world leader. Finally, re: the jets, we gave you the Lego kind. Enjoy.

BC NDP leader John Horgan:

Your request for a political solution that will unite the green and labour wings of the NDP by allowing the development of LNG resources in a timely fashion while maintaining strong environmental protections, plenty of good jobs, and a healthy flow of tax revenue despite the currently unfavourable market situation was certainly a worthy request. Pardon me -- it was impolite to laugh. Anyway, can't help you. Maybe next year.

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice:

Your Christmas gift list had to be reassessed due to current energy market conditions. A tricycle is a perfectly nice Christmas gift that many children would be happy with. Besides, the Hummer you asked for would just make you foolish. They always do.

Mr. Conrad Black:

I'm afraid your request that I metagrobolize your unpropitious calumniators for their amaranthine obloquy puzzled our elf staff somewhat. We hope you enjoy the Speak 'n Spell. We gave you extra batteries.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps:

For one thing we simply did not have any Oliver Cromwell costumes in stock. But anyway, it was the opinion of the entire North Pole crew that you would be better off with a nice gift card. Hope you like Royal Doulton!

The Fraser Institute:

Santa is a little surprised that you people asked for anything at all.

Having received $175,000 from the Koch Brothers to push your climate change denial agenda, you neither need nor deserve anything from Santa. In fact I was planning to leave you a stocking full of coal until the elves reminded me that you love the stuff. Hence the 2-year subscription to the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. Do some reading, clowns.

Toronto media:

I can't force Mayor John Tory to date a Kardashian. Sorry.

Kim Jong Un:

Mrs. Claus and myself would like to sternly protest the hacking of our online passwords. We do not respond to threats. Besides, enriched uranium is not an item we keep in stock. Enjoy your Sony DVD gift pack.

Little Cindy Sanderson of Semlin Drive:

Thank you so much for the milk and cookies. They really hit the spot.

And bless you for making a Christmas list consisting only of a prayer for world peace and a Christmas free from worry for all children everywhere. It was a lovely thing to ask for, Cindy. What you got was a My Little Pony Pinkie Pie Helicopter. Best I could do, I'm afraid.

Merry Christmas anyway.

Vancouver ducks:

Come on now. What more do you want?

Please note our comment threads will be closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 5 to give our moderators a well-deserved break. Happy holidays, readers. [Tyee]

Read more: Politics, BC Politics

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll