CBC in hot water over use of slur

HNIC bans the use of the word “pansification”

I don't know if it's even a real word, nonetheless, the CBC has banned the use of the word "pansification"

The Globe and Mail has revealed that Hockey Night in Canada came under fire from Ottawa-based gay advocacy group Egale Canada after the word was used by the show’s personalities to describe how the game would be affected if fighting were prohibited.

The word was invented by HNIC commentator Mike Milbury, and was repeated by host Ron MacLean. The usually outspoken Don Cherry kept mum, refusing – smartly, wow never thought I'd say that and Don Cherry in the same sentence – to not use the word.

"I'm smarter than that," the Hockey Night commentator told The Globe a few days ago. "I know right away you don't fool with those guys, a group like that."

In a letter to the Globe, Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports says, "While we're not generally inclined either to censor the language or views presented on Hockey Night in Canada, we've decided to refrain from using that word in future."

"Upon reflection, we're going to take Don Cherry's sage advice on this one. While, as we originally said, absolutely no offence was intended, we recognize we've offended some and for that we're sorry.”

CBC’s initial response was to defend the word’s use, saying that it was not a slur against homosexuals.

Helen Kennedy, the executive director of Egale Canada, said: "That's really good news. One of our big concerns was that ‘pansy’ is a word used regularly to bully young boys."