QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
December 2, 2020
My question is for the government representative and their leader in the Senate.
Senator Gold, we’ve seen over the last five years how the Trudeau government has showered the CBC with historic highs in terms of funding, and yet we saw today in a report by Blacklock’s Reporter that the CBC has set a records this year for a historic low in ad revenue, as well as a historic low in terms of viewership.
Certainly you will agree, Senator Gold, that the CBC is producing programming that Canadian taxpayers are not watching and don’t want. Yet at the same time, the Trudeau government is siphoning billions of dollars out of the pockets of taxpayers and showering it onto that corporation. I think in the spirit of transparency my question is very simple. It has been a very long time since there’s been a parliamentary review of the Broadcasting Act and the CBC English operations. Will you agree and the government agree that it’s high time, and critical in the spirit of transparency, to call a parliamentary inquiry and a review of CBC operations, even the Broadcasting Act? If the government doesn’t do it, why not?
The Government of Canada takes seriously its responsibilities to the citizens of Canada to provide and support a national broadcasting system. That’s why the CBC continues to benefit from the support of Canadians.
We’ve heard in this chamber criticism when the CBC cuts back. It’s a little bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears; a little bit too hot or a bit too cold.
The Government of Canada is engaged, as all governments are, in the challenge of the changing media landscape and changed environment for more traditional broadcasters.
I’ll certainly take your suggestion and raise it with the government and report back.
Senator Gold, I think we all agree that the role of government is to fill voids and not take taxpayers’ money and put it into make-work projects that clearly — when you look at the ratings and the ad revenue — Canadian taxpayers and the Canadian public don’t take to.
Senator Gold, at the start of this pandemic, the CBC briefly cut out its local news programming because of what they called the lack of resources. They cut local broadcasting right in the middle of the last five years, when they received historic highs in funding. This goes against the heart of their mandate and their licensing mandate. All we got back from the CRTC, when complaints were filed about this local broadcasting being slashed down, was silence and very little action on the part of the CRTC, and they themselves have been negligent, with what amounts to just a slap on the wrist to the CBC.
Senator Gold, wouldn’t you agree that a parliamentary study is well overdue, both in terms of the Broadcasting Act and the CBC’s role, and if the government doesn’t do it, why aren’t they doing it?
As the honourable senator knows, I am a fan of parliamentary reviews. I have proposed one to this chamber. Indeed, others are in active discussion with my leadership colleagues.
Again, senator, thank you for your question. I cannot answer the specific question, nor do I, with respect, agree with you. I will certainly make inquiries and be happy to report back.
