CBC funding comes under Conservative fire despite election promiseSep 26, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Toronto (September 26, 2011) - Despite an election promise to maintain or increase funding to the CBC, cutting or even eliminating the budget of the national public broadcaster seems to be rising up the agenda of the Harper government, according to fresh communications from Conservative MPs and the Conservative Fund Canada which have been compiled and released by the broadcast watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. Currently, Rob Anders, the Conservative MP for Calgary West, is circulating an online petition to the House of Commons calling on the Conservative government to "end public funding of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation". Meanwhile, the Conservative MP for London West, Ed Holder, is running a "push poll" online which asks visitors to his website "Do you believe taxpayers should continue to provide funding to CBC Radio and CBC TV?" And, the fundraising wing of the Conservative Party has also launched a leading survey which asks financial supporters "In recent years, CBC funding has exceeded a billion dollars per year. Do you think taxpayers receive good value or bad value from the CBC?" The fundraising pitch goes on to say that "This survey is very, very important to our legislative planning". "These kinds of phony public opinion soundings and outright hostility stand in sharp contrast to Harper's Heritage Minister James Moore who promised ongoing support for the CBC," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for Friends. Just four months ago Minister Moore said "We believe in the national public broadcaster. We have said that we will maintain or increase support for the CBC. That is our platform and we have said that before and will commit to that". -30- For information: Jim Thompson 613-447-9592
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Feb 13, 2012 — Poll finds Canadian media too important to allow foreign controlAccording to a new opinion survey, 77% of Canadians see domestic media companies as too important for cultural and security reasons to allow them to be controlled by foreign interests. Feb 1, 2012 — Hamilton residents want their own CBC stationA substantial majority of Hamilton area residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs, and support the Conservative's pre-election pledge to maintain or increase CBC funding. Jan 31, 2012 — London residents want their own CBC stationA wide majority of London residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs and most hope their MP would champion the new station or not oppose it. Jan 31, 2012 — Kamloops area residents want their own CBC stationA substantial majority of Kamloops area residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs and three-quarters hope their MP would champion a new station or not oppose it. Jan 19, 2012 — Waterloo region residents want their own CBC stationA new opinion survey shows a substantial majority (68%) of Waterloo region residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs and most (73%) hope their MP would champion the new station or not oppose it. Nov 29, 2011 — Le gouvernement conservateur perdrait sa nouvelle crédibilité en matière culturelle si Radio-Canada subissait des coupuresLe parti Conservateur a réussi à s'attirer la confiance des citoyens en ce qui a trait à la culture canadienne et à la Société Radio-Canada, mais cette confiance pourrait rapidement se volatiliser si la SRC devait faire face aux compressions à son allocation parlementaire dont les rumeurs abondent. Nov 29, 2011 — Poll: New Conservative traction on culture and CBC could slip with budget cutsNew survey finds the Conservative Party is gaining the trust of voters when it comes to Canadian culture and the CBC, but that trust could quickly evaporate if forecast cuts to the national public broadcaster’s parliamentary allocation come to pass. Oct 27, 2011 — PM’s appointees responsible for CBC’s disclosure woesFRIENDS says the current debate about the CBC's access to information practices lays bare a broader accountability issue. |
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