The Editor,
Critics of the CBC were surely thrilled to learn about the massive budget cuts announced in CBC’s latest five-year plan. For proponents of the CBC’s downsizing, such drastic cuts do not put CBC’s future at stake, but are rather aimed at reinforcing its commercial viability, local presence, ability to broadcast Canadian content and, ultimately, its capacity to fulfill its mandate.
I personally take issue with this. As a Canadian and member of a minority community, I am deeply concerned with the proposed direction. As a Senator, I believe it is the duty of the legislators to carefully scrutinize what is really at stake.
What is being proposed (e.g., workforce downsized by an additional 25 per cent; half of the real estate put on the block; dramatically reduced in-house production; shiftto a “digital first” approach … including in rural communities with limited broadband access)is nothing less than irreversible cuts that will permanently undermine the corporation’s capacity to carry out its mandate.
This should be the heart of the conversation. CBC’s mandate is really what is at stake. Unfortunately, it is a dimension that is conveniently brushed away.
Making decisions on the premise that CBC is just “another network” that should depend on announcers, compete for commercial revenues and focus on ratings is a wrong assumption. It is wrong from a legal perspective, as CBC has clear legal obligations, if only under the Broadcasting Actand the Official Languages Act, as confirmed by a recent decision of the Federal Court. More importantly, it is wrong from a societal standpoint.
CBC’s vital function with respect to minority communities is well documented, including in a recent report by the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages, of which I am a member. Its valuable role as a developer of talent, champion of the Canadian consumer or bridge between various national and international realities is also well established and must be vigorously protected.
Moreover, its critical contribution as an effective channel for fostering Canadian values - such as, the respect of differences, for instance - is truly exceptional. I strongly believe that CBC is still uniquely positioned to be the weapon that keeps us united beyond our linguistic and cultural diversities.
CBCis more than entertainment, ratings and revenue generation. It is not a network like the others, and should not be managed as such.
Of course, it is legitimate to question whether the corporation is still properly equipped to play its role in the Internet era, where communication technology and delivery channels have evolved. Such a questioning should not, however, deny the fundamental principles behind the corporation’s raison d’être. Whatever the nature of the modernization efforts, they should not jeopardize CBC’s mandate, which will remain as critical in the future as it was in the past.
Maria Chaput,
Senator
