Canada's broadcast regulator has dropped its investigation of foul-mouthed commentator Ezra Levant's obscene on-air language last June after Sun News Network issued a vague apology a few days ago.

The door was opened to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's retreat from doing its job when the industry-run Canadian Broadcast Standards Council quietly shelved its objections to investigating complaints about Levant's obscenity-laced June 13 commentary. According to the CRTC, the CBSC changed its mind because of the Sun News Network "apology" that was aired with little fanfare on Sept. 17.

Whatever one may think of the value of obscenity to public discourse, the debate over the use on the air of an obscene Spanish phrase by Sun News Network commentator Ezra Levant established an unrelated but important fact about the broadcaster that employs him.

Sun News Network cannot be depended on to keep all its agreements.

This is an important consideration for Canadian broadcast regulators because Sun News Network is sure to be back at the well seeking improvements, extensions and changes to its licence.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has asked the federal broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, to investigate complaints about a June 13 broadcast by Sun News Network commentator Ezra Levant.

The CBSC said in a letter to this blogger that it will not itself investigate complaints about Sun News Network's June 13 episode of Levant's program The Source because "the comments in question are about the CBSC and identified individuals who volunteer as our Panel members."