CBC News says it will stay quiet on questions about government subsidies after Prime Minister Mark Carney promised hundreds of millions in additional funding if the Liberals are re-elected.
Blacklock's Reporter says the broadcaster confirmed it would not comment on campaign promises involving its own budget.
“During the election period we do not have any comment on the parties’ positions on CBC,” said spokesperson Eric Wright. Journalists were instead directed to a previous statement by editor in chief Brodie Fenlon, who acknowledged,
“There is an obvious challenge and inherent conflict of interest in covering ourselves and our public funding.”
The CBC currently receives a $1.4 billion annual parliamentary grant, which is its primary source of revenue.
On Friday, Carney pledged to add $150 million a year in “additional funding increases,” while also proposing long-term support that would bring CBC subsidies in line with other national public broadcasters. CBC executives have requested as much as $1.9 billion in total yearly funding.
The Department of Canadian Heritage has discussed amounts as high as $2.5 billion.
Carney defended the plan by describing the CBC as essential in times of crisis. “Canadians rely on it to keep up with what’s happening. When disasters happen such as forest fires, floods or storms that threaten their communities, public broadcasting is crucial as a vital source of information to help people stay safe.”
He also vowed to make CBC funding statutory, requiring full parliamentary approval for any future changes. However, all federal spending already requires Parliament’s approval under existing law.
“By strengthening our public broadcaster we are protecting our identity and our culture,” Carney said. “If elected my government will take action to enshrine and protect and strengthen the CBC for generations to come.”
While Liberal, Bloc Québécois and New Democrat MPs recommended a “substantial and lasting” increase in CBC’s budget in a December 15 report, Conservatives issued a dissenting opinion calling for the network to be defunded.
“Canadian taxpayer dollars are being abused,” they wrote.
Conservative MP Kevin Waugh, a member of the heritage committee, criticized CBC management for collecting $14.9 million in bonuses while cutting 346 jobs last year.
“The CBC cut hundreds of jobs while awarding lavish bonuses,” Waugh told the House of Commons.
“This disgraceful abuse of taxpayer dollars when Canadians are struggling for financial survival has contributed to the ‘defund the CBC’ movement.”
Opposition MPs stood to applaud.
