With Conservatives Promising to Defund, Will the Next Election End the CBC?

As the election nears, the CBC’s future hangs in the balance amid Conservative defunding promises

With Conservatives Promising to Defund, Will the Next Election End the CBC?
With Conservatives Promising to Defund, Will the Next Election End the CBC?

Ottawa: In late 2023, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge mentioned it was time to rethink the CBC’s role. Fast forward a year, and with an election looming, her office promises changes to the broadcaster’s mandate soon. But with Parliament on hold until late March, getting any changes through might be tough.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is sticking to his guns about defunding the CBC if he wins. He’s been vocal about it, saying he’ll act quickly if he gets the chance. This means the CBC’s future will be a hot topic in the upcoming campaign.

Peter Menzies from the Macdonald-Laurier Institute thinks the CBC will have a tricky time covering an election where it’s a major player. Sarah Andrews from Friends of Canadian Media believes the CBC’s existence is a big deal for many Canadians, as it’s part of what makes Canada, well, Canada.

The Conservatives haven’t shared many details about their defunding plan. Damien Kurek, the party’s heritage critic, mentioned they’d defund the CBC but still ensure French-speaking Canadians get news. He called the CBC a “broken propaganda machine” and suggested turning its headquarters into homes.

When asked if this meant shutting down the CBC, Poilievre reiterated his plan to save the government $1 billion a year by defunding it. In the last fiscal year, the CBC received $1.44 billion from the government and made $493.5 million in revenue.

Menzies noted that this defunding promise resonates with a part of the Conservative base, but it might not sit well with the broader public. A survey showed that most Canadians, including Conservative voters, want to keep the CBC around. Only 11% supported defunding it.

Jessica Johnson from McGill University pointed out that if a party runs on defunding the CBC, they’d have to justify that decision to the public. Most Canadians want improvements, not drastic changes.

Critics say cutting funding to English services would be complicated since the CBC and Radio-Canada share resources. The new CEO, Marie-Philippe Bouchard, confirmed that the two services are closely linked, and without support, the English service would struggle.

The CBC’s role is defined in the 1991 Broadcasting Act, which states it should provide a variety of programming that informs and entertains. If defunded, it would still exist on paper but wouldn’t be able to operate.

In 2021, the Liberal government aimed to modernize the CBC’s mandate, but not much has happened since. Andrews noted that the media landscape has changed significantly with the rise of the internet, and the CBC needs to adapt.

Auer highlighted that many Canadians value the CBC but are concerned about its performance. She argued that the real issue is inadequate funding, as Canada’s public broadcasting is underfunded compared to other countries.

A recent report from the House of Commons Heritage committee recommended increasing funding for the CBC to help it eliminate paid subscriptions and reduce reliance on ads. They warned that defunding could lead to thousands of job losses and that the CBC is often the only news source in some areas.

Conservative MPs disagreed with the report, pushing for defunding instead. St-Onge’s office stated she’s been working on policy changes for the CBC and looks forward to sharing more details soon.

With a new CEO in place, Bouchard has a lot on her plate. Menzies believes the Liberal government missed a chance to set a new mandate, leaving Bouchard in a tough spot without clear direction.

Disclaimer: All images comply with fair use for educational and informational purposes. Sourced from public platforms. Have questions? Contact us.
Fact-Checking Policy: Accurate information is our focus. If errors are found, please let us know, and corrections will be made swiftly.