Prime Minister Mark Carney said there are plans to reform the CBC and will release details soon.
“We understand the importance of enhancing, promoting and supporting Quebec’s French,” Carney said in response to a reporter’s question at a campaign stop in Montreal on March 28th.
He said he is “fully committed” to CBC’s French arm, “workable” Radio Canada, and that his party will propose plans to reform public broadcasters in the coming days.
Carney criticizes the plan of conservative leader Pierre Poilievre to refund CBC, saying that Network plays a key role. Poilievre says he will refund the English CBC but will continue to fund Radio Canada.
Conservative CBC Plan
Poilievre says taxpayers will save more than $1 billion a year by paying off CBC. He is also critical of broadcaster reporting, calling it a bias.
On March 26, conservatives announced plans to fund Radio Canada at a campaign stop in Quebec City. Quebec-specific platforms included the parties’ pledge to preserve the Radio Canada program.
During a stop in Winnipeg on March 29, Polyebre said conservatives would protect French.
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“We support official bilingualism and back up official bilingualism across the country with all federal government services and programs,” he said in response to a reporter’s question.
Liberals are proposing increased CBC funding
Carney’s comments follow a February proposal to increase CBC funding by Heritage Minister Pascalé St. Onge, which almost doubles government funding for the broadcaster.
The advisory committee appointed by St-Onge almost a year ago was asked to recommend policy changes that could “strengthen and update” CBC/Radio-Canada, according to a government news release on February 20.
She proposed that Canada increase CBC’s per capita funds to $62 per person.
In 2024, CBC received $1.4 billion in federal funding. Under the liberal proposal, the broadcaster will win $2.6 billion.
St-Onge said it could also eliminate advertising on CBC’s platforms, including TV, radio and online. However, she said the funds will be decided by the next leader and the finance minister.
Matthew Horwood contributed to this article.
