FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa – 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.

News that CBC's budget will be reviewed comes only days after Minister Moore promised the Commons Heritage Committee that there would be no cuts to CBC's budget.

Appearing before the Committee on April 29th, Moore replied "That's correct" to MP Pablo Rodriguez's question: "Can you guarantee today that your government will not cut CBC?"

The government's decision to review CBC's budget was announced by President Hubert Lacroix late last week. In a note to CBC staff, Lacroix said in part:

"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 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 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."

"FRIENDS was relieved to hear Minister Moore's promise to the MPs on April 29th. Obviously we're disappointed that he misled the Heritage Committee," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for the broadcast watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Morrison is testifying before the Heritage Committee in Ottawa this afternoon.

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is an independent and non-partisan watchdog organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Canadian content on radio and television. FRIENDS is not affiliated with any broadcaster.

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For information: Jim Thompson 613-447-9592

Related Documents:

May 11, 2009 — CBC News: CBC faces further cuts of up to $56M in 2010
FRIENDS says Heritage Minister James Moore misleading the House of Commons Heritage Committee when he guaranteed there would be no cuts to the CBC budget.

May 11, 2009 — Globe & Mail: No free pass for CBC on cost-cutting exercise by Jennifer Ditchburn
FRIENDS asks whether Minister Moore knew that a funding review was in the works when he gave his guarantee to parliamentarians that the CBC's budget would not be cut.

May 11, 2009 — CBC News: CBC faces further cuts of up to $56M in 2010
FRIENDS says Heritage Minister James Moore misleading the House of Commons Heritage Committee when he guaranteed there would be no cuts to the CBC budget.

May 8, 2009 — CBC/Radio-Canada: Message to CBC employees from CBC President Hubert Lacroix
In a note to staff, Hubert Lacroix says the government has asked the public broadcaster to evaluate all program and spending activities and identify the lowest priorities in terms of carrying out CBC's mandate.