The Republican Party has decided to withdraw media accreditation for CBC/Radio-Canada journalists for their upcoming midterm convention. Chuck Thompson, the head of public affairs at CBC, confirmed this decision on Monday, stating that the Republican National Committee (RNC) will not be granting accreditation to CBC/Radio-Canada reporters to cover the convention in Dallas, Texas, scheduled for September 9 and 10. Thompson expressed disappointment at the RNC’s move and mentioned that CBC is currently reviewing this decision, hoping for a reconsideration.

Efforts to obtain comments from convention organizers by CBC News through email requests on Monday evening were met with silence. The White House redirected CBC’s inquiries to the RNC, which could not be reached by phone that same evening. The revocation of accreditation comes at a time of heightened tensions between Canada and the United States, marked by escalating sanctions and sharp rhetoric from politicians on both sides of the border.

Recent criticisms of CBC by Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials were triggered by a leaked internal memo from the broadcaster concerning the use of the terms “terrorism” and “terrorist” in relation to the 9/11 attacks, drawing international attention. The memo, which outlined a policy directing CBC journalists to refrain from labeling specific attacks as “terrorist acts” unless explicitly attributed, faced widespread backlash ahead of the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11 next month.

In response to the controversy, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, Basem Boshra, announced on Friday a revision to the broadcaster’s language guidance, clarifying that direct attribution is not mandatory when describing the historical events of 9/11 as terrorism. This adjustment aims to enhance clarity and public comprehension, addressing unintended obstacles in communication.