Canada

Photo: Contributed - YouTube

Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith has cut ties with former campaign manager Tom Flanagan, after he made comments at a lecture suggesting looking at child pornography shouldn't be a crime

The CBC has dumped former Stephen Harper strategist Tom Flanagan over his suggestion that viewing child pornography should not be a crime.

In a statement, CBC editor and chief Jennifer McGuire says the broadcaster is ending its association with Flanagan, who was a regular panellist on the News Network show Power and Politics.

At a community meeting in Lethbridge on Wednesday night, Flanagan was asked about remarks he made in 2009 regarding child pornography.

In a video from the meeting posted on YouTube, Flanagan says while he has no sympathy for child molesters, he has grave concerns about putting people in jail because of their taste in images.

McGuire says while the CBC supports and encourages free speech, Flanagan's comments crossed the line.

Calls to Flanagan's office at the University of Calgary were not immediately returned.