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Conservative MP calls CBC a "money pit, rife with bureaucracy and waste"

Jun 18, 2012

An unfortunate reality is that many Conservative MPs are secretly hostile to public broadcasting. They usually keep their true feelings under a veil, because they know the CBC is extremely popular with their constituents and other Canadians. 

A recent example is Tom Lukiwski, a Conservative MP who represents the Saskatchewan riding of Regina–Lumsden–Lake Centre in the House of Commons. On May 8, Lukiwski wrote to a constituent (and FRIENDS supporter) that the CBC is a "money pit, rife with bureaucracy and waste". 

This ideologically-motivated hostility can be viewed in this May 8 letter: (another letter sent on April 23 is available down the page)

May 8 Letter

Just weeks before, on April 23, the same FCB supporter received a VERY different message from Mr. Lukiwski. This one spouted the 'party line', almost certainly drafted in the Prime Minister's Office, that the CBC was simply sharing the pain of deficit reduction. Even though he presumably did not believe a word of it, Lukiwski also signed that letter, which you can read below.

Apr 23 Letter

Here is the constituent's response to the above letter:

April 26, 2012

Dear Sir:

I am in receipt of your letter concerning your Government's cuts to the CBC Dated April 23, 2012.

While I am sure its content was provided to you as a kind of form letter so you could respond to the many of your constituents who have written to you and to your colleagues over the past few weeks about our concerns about sustainability of the Corporation I would like to pursue a few of your points a bit further.

First let me say that I agree with you that the Liberals cut the CBC's budget substantially during the Chretien years just as the Government did under Conservative Brian Mulroney. So, it is true you are not alone. Attacking he CBC has been a Government sport for some time.

I do find your statements that the CBC will now be able to focus on "new digital technologies" and have a stronger presence in communities to be not much more than bafflegab. Ask the people in Northern Saskatchewan if they think the closing of the La Ronge station will help to do that.

Further you should not forget that with these cuts, the CBC will no longer have the technical facilities nor the trained personnel to record local music in any of the three prairie provinces. I am not sure how that helps serve local communities or musicians.

I am also particularly interested in your comment that "it will be less expensive for taxpayers, held hostage by fewer unions" Now I know that you, or someone on your staff, just made that up. The CBC held hostage by their unions? What poppycock. You are very out of touch.

I trust you know what a shit sandwich is. Just in case you don't the internet describes it as "The news is dressed up with first a positive friendly statement then the crap in the middle, and then a positive statement like "thanks for taking the time to write" to take the edge off things at the end.

In any case, this writing style, I find quite offensive and it seems, all I ever get from you.

I am passing your letter on to the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting as an example of the double speak we have come to expect from you. Who knows they may give you some kind of honourable mention for disingenuous efforts to justify the actions of your government.