Writer of Tommy Douglas miniseries defends script

The writer behind the controversial television miniseries about former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas is speaking out in response to CBC-TV'sdecision to pull the showafter citinghistorical inaccuracies.

Screenwriter Bruce Smith said he stands behind the work he did for Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story, which CBC broadcast over two nights in March.

In particular, he is defending his portrayal of Saskatchewan's former Liberal premier Jimmy Gardiner, a political opponent of Douglas in the 1930s when the Canadian icon first was elected as a candidate for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a forerunner of the NDP.

"I stand by my portrayal of Jimmy Gardiner without reservation," Smith said in a written statement released by the Writers Guild of Canada. "It is historically accurate and based on extensive research."

Gardiner's family members said he was portrayed in a negative light, as a leader who didn't care about farmers or immigrants.

In response to their concerns, the CBC engaged an independent historian to research the case. It announced earlier this month that as a result of that review, it would pull the movie from circulation and halt DVD sales.

However, Smith said he can counter every argument the historian made against his script.

"The CBC's behaviour is inexcusable," said Maureen Parker, the executive director of the Writers Guild. "We ask that they review the facts and issue a public apology."

Besides damaging Smith's reputation, the CBC's move sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who wants to write scripts based on true-life events, she said.