13-year-old Ontario journalist says Lecce is ignoring his interview requests
A 13-year-old Ontario journalist who has interviewed big names in Canadian politics says the Minister of Education has been rejecting or ignoring interview requests from him for almost a year.
Wyatt Sharpe, a Clarington, Ont. resident, interviewed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford on his Youtube channel, the Wyatt Sharpe Show. Recently, he spoke to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, John Bolton.
But for almost a year now, he says he's been asking Education Minister Stephen Lecce’s office for a one-on-one interview. After repeated requests, Sharpe posted about his effort to try “everything possible” to interview the minister.
In response, he says he received an email from a Ministry spokesperson on Nov. 21 saying, “I don’t appreciate you tweeting that we aren’t responding to you, Other than a broad media availability, the Minister was not doing any 1x1 interviews.”
The Ministry of Education did not respond to CTV News Toronto's requests for comment on the matter by the stated deadline.
Sharpe’s recent urgency to reach the minister is tied to the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ (CUPE) labour negotiations with the Ford government. On Sunday, the two parties reached a tentative agreement and averted a potential strike.
“I’m asking questions that I know students, educators and parents want to know,” Sharpe, who is currently in Grade 8, said.
A year ago, Lecce appeared on the Wyatt Sharpe Show to speak about mental health and COVID-19 vaccines. At the time, Sharpe said the ministry was accepting and welcoming, but since then, the tone has changed as his show’s engagement has grown.
In his coverage of the labour negotiations, Sharpe has interviewed Laura Walton, president of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions, and CUPE Ontario President Fredd Hahn.
In an effort to produce balanced reporting, Sharpe said he “almost felt an obligation” to tweet about Lecce’s lack of availability.
“He's the only person on education issues that I haven't had the opportunity to speak with,” he said.
“The role of government is to be accountable to the public. Me putting out these tweets…it’s because I have an obligation as a journalist.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.