2016.03.22 | CWA Canada Local 30213 | Canadian Media Guild
Media unions hail federal budget funds for CBC
The restoration of CBC funding contained in today’s federal budget is being hailed by the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) and its parent union, CWA Canada, which represents thousands of workers at the public broadcaster.
The CMG said in a news release that the reversal of the severe cuts inflicted by the Harper government is consistent with the Liberal election platform recognizing the CBC as “the anchor of Canada’s cultural and creative industries” and as a “vital national institution that brings Canadians together.”
“We hope the addition of $75 million this fiscal year and $150 million a year until 2021 will allow the CBC to stop the cuts that have crippled its ability to provide quality local news and original programming,” said Marc-Philippe Laurin, president of the CBC Branch at the CMG.
“CBC President Hubert Lacroix has said he was shackled by Conservative budget cuts. Now the shackles are off. The CMG calls on Lacroix to freeze further planned job cuts and the sale of CBC buildings and assets until a new plan — and a new vision — are in place.”
CWA Canada President Martin O’Hanlon welcomed the news, saying the CBC will now be able to spend new money on quality journalism and programming.
“Now come the next big steps: Replacing the Conservative-appointed CBC board that presided over the devastating cuts to our public broadcaster, and developing a new vision that sees the CBC as a public trust, not just a business,” said O’Hanlon.
“With the new funding, the focus needs to be on ensuring CBC continues to produce quality original programming for all platforms — television, radio and digital — instead of purchasing outside content,” said Carmel Smyth, CMG president.
“The concern that the CBC will no longer be able to create Canadian programs is one of the reasons the CBC’s two largest unions are calling for an independently appointed leadership,” she said.
O’Hanlon added that, to “create a vibrant public broadcaster in a country as big and diverse as this will require more money to move us up from our current spot near the bottom of per capita funding among developed nations.”
The CMG has long argued for stable, long-term funding for CBC and implementation of a 2008 Heritage Committee recommendation to raise per capita funding.
For interviews or more information, contact Martin O'Hanlon (email / 613-820-8460).