Source: CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada learned that it is required to participate in this year's Strategic Review, which is a pillar of the Government's expenditure management system.  The Strategic Review process is applicable to all federal organizations that receive appropriations from Parliament, including CBC/Radio-Canada.

We all know that these are difficult times for our industry across the board, and for CBC/Radio-Canada, since we are currently dealing with the fallout of a $171 million dollar shortfall for 2009-2010 and its ensuing impact on our people and programs.  

The objective of the strategic review is to evaluate all of our program and spending activities to identify the lowest priorities in terms of carrying out our mandate (a 5 percent target has been identified, 5 percent as it relates to the amount of our parliamentary appropriation, not our overall budget) as well as recommendations on how we could reallocate the spending to higher priority activities, again in response to our mandate. The terms of our mandate, set out in both the Broadcasting Act and our Conditions of Licence, will drive this review.

The review will take place in the next weeks with a view to having recommendations for the government in advance of their budget for 2010-2011 (so, this would affect our budget for 2010-2011).  The process will be overseen by a steering committee, which I will chair.

I'm not going to speculate about the outcome or the impact that this could possibly have on our 2010-2011 appropriation and budget. We are just starting the review. We will put forward proposals as part of the Budget process, and the results will be part of Budget 2010.

The strategic review process helps inform the annual Budget planning process and in this context, results will not be known until the Government's Budget is released, usually early in the new year. I'll tell you what I can when I can.

Hang in there.

© CBC/Radio-Canada

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May 11, 2009 — News Release: New CBC cuts coming
CBC's budget is being reviewed to identify spending cuts of up to 5% or $56 million despite Heritage Minister James Moore's guarantee that the Harper government would not cut CBC's budget.