Canada

An online game funded by Ontario taxpayers that shows the bombing of a gas pipeline and drew criticism from the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia is being reviewed.

TV Ontario, the province's public broadcaster, spent money to create the game "Pipe Trouble" to accompany a documentary about the pipeline debate in British Columbia.

Photo: Contributed - pipetrouble.com

A TVO blog described "Pipe Trouble" as a "companion ethical game" to a documentary that deals with local opposition to pipelines and the bombing of pipelines in Peace River, B.C.

A TVO blog described "Pipe Trouble" as a "companion ethical game" to a documentary that deals with local opposition to pipelines and the bombing of pipelines in Peace River, B.C.

But critics slammed the game's introductory video, which appears to show activists protesting before a pipeline blows up.

TVO said Friday night that it recognizes the public concern over "Pipe Trouble" and the game has been removed from its website.

The broadcaster says two independent individuals will be appointed to review the game "in the context of TVO's programming standards."

TVO says it hopes to release the names of the two people next week and says a report will be delivered to TVO's board of directors by the end of April and made public.

"Until this process is complete TVO has made the decision to remove Pipe Trouble from its website," the broadcaster said in a statement posted on its site.