Conservative gadfly Ezra Levant moving to Toronto to be a SUN-TV commentator

Erickson & Levant

Ezra Levant, who for several years published the Western Standard, a conservative magazine in Calgary, is moving to Toronto to be a commentator on Sun TV, the "Fox North" channel being launched early next year, after expected approval of its license by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecomunications Commission (CRTC). 

Levant's appointment and that of former CBC journalist Krista Erickson, was announced by Pierre Karl Peladeau, the CEO of Quebecor Media, which is launching (or re-launching) the station. 

The Western Standard was the successor to Ted Byfield's Alberta Report magazine, in both political stance (well to the right) and location. The Standard started in March 2004 and  folded as a print publication in October 2007, citing financial difficulties though it continues in a different form  and under different management online.

Levant, a lawyer by training, has busied himself with writing books (Shakedown and the recently released Ethical Oil) and battling the Alberta Human Rights Commission over his decision to republish the controversial so-called "Danish" cartoons that lampooned Muslims. (See earlier posts .)The discrimination case was dismissed, and Levant proceeded to sue the person who had brought the complaint.

Peladeau's announcement said Erickson would be joining the TV news team while "Ezra Levant will bring his outspoken nature to prime time as a straight talk host....Ezra isn’t afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Whether it’s his national crusade for freedom of speech, or his refreshing and contrarian take on the oilsands. Fans and foes alike won’t want to miss a minute of his show.”[Think Bill O'Reilly.]