More than a year ago, I decided to file an Access to Information Act request with the CBC to find out if taxpayers were paying former NDP MLA, and current NDP president, Moe Sihota for appearing as a pundit. I must apologize: it was so long ago, I don’t remember what exactly sparked me to file the request.

I made the request on Jan. 20, 2012, and on Feb. 10, 2012, the CBC filed for a time extension, saying they needed an extra 45 days to get me the information. On March 27, 2012, the CBC sent me a copy of Sihota’s contract, but with all dollar amounts severed. A week later, I complained to the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada that the CBC had improperly withheld the dollar amount.

A year later, on Feb. 14, 2013, I finally got the information back. The Information Commissioner office concluded: “we were not satisfied that the information met the criteria [for severing].” This forced the CBC to finally disclose the contract with Sihota.

It looks like Sihota – on top of a $55,000 B.C. MLA pension and a $72,000 union-funded NDP presidency salary – receives $182.21 when he appears on CBC’s political panels. One would think dealing with the media and representing the NDP would be part of his job description as a party president; why are taxpayers paying to hear from him?

All of the documents are posted here for your enjoyment.

UPDATE (8:22 PM, Thursday, Feb. 21): Another CBC regular, retiring B.C. Liberal MLA Colin Hansen, tweeted me tonight noting he doesn't take any money from CBC for appearing on a panel with Sihota.