Leader, a few weeks ago, one of my colleagues asked you about the CBC spending taxpayer dollars to fight a court battle against the Information Commissioner — all to avoid transparency. Now we learn that secrecy pays off, as the broadcaster has been awarded another $150 million from your government, allegedly to strengthen its mandate and protect Canadian identity. Yet, somehow, your government believes that the best way to promote sovereign Canadian content is by joining the European television competition Eurovision Song Contest.

Leader, how does subsidizing European content, while rewarding secrecy and incompetence, amount to defending Canadian culture and sovereignty?

As to the CBC, the government knows it is time to reinforce CBC/Radio-Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada is a vital source of news and entertainment for Canadians nationwide and is the only outlet that delivers news in English, French, eight Indigenous languages and seven other languages. The government promised Canadians a strong public broadcaster and better access to local news. It is what they expect from the government, and that’s what the government is going to deliver.

It is crucial that Canadians from coast to coast to coast can rely upon a trustworthy source of information and entertainment made right here at home.