With the national public broadcaster forecasting a budget deficit and Conservatives threatening to cut its funding if they win the next election, its top executive says it’s time to make its funding sustainable.
“Let’s be clear: the mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada does not need to be reviewed,” insisted its president and CEO, Catherine Tait, on Friday.
“What needs to be reviewed is the financial model and the way we are governed. »
Mme Tait made the comments to an audience of industry players at the ‘Prime Time’ conference, aimed at the broadcast, film and media sector.
Mme Tait floated the idea of a predictable and sustainable method of funding, for example under a charter similar to that of the BBC, which comes with a six-year funding agreement with the British government.
She also presented the example of other public broadcasters from elsewhere in the world, which have charters of five to ten years, “so that they can actually plan” their activities.
CBC/Radio-Canada obtains its annual funding based on the parliamentary cycle, recalled Ms. Tait, which leaves the public broadcaster in uncertainty.
“We live in a perpetual state of worry, not knowing what the next year will bring – and if there is a change of government, what that will bring,” she explained.
Questioned by The Canadian Press, a spokesperson for Radio-Canada stressed that Mme Tait had shared his idea in a discussion, and that it was not a formal request to the government.
Sector in transformation
In Ottawa, the Conservatives promised to cut funding for CBC/Radio-Canada and transform its Toronto headquarters into “affordable housing.” Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, however, clarified that his party would maintain support for services adapted to French-speaking communities.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, has already stated in an interview with The Canadian Press that she wanted the role of Radio-Canada to be redefined before the next federal election.
During his own panel at the “Prime Time” conference on Thursday, Mme St-Onge mentioned that she was not seeking to conduct a broad consultation on the future of Radio-Canada, since that has already been done several times.
Instead, a committee of experts is currently advising it on ways in which CBC/Radio-Canada can be better positioned as the news industry adapts to a digital transformation and competes with big tech companies worldwide for advertising revenue.
“There are other public broadcasters around the world that we can learn from, see what the best practices and ideas are. This is what I am going to talk about with the committee of experts,” underlined Mr.me St-Onge.
The minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Canadian Press to find out whether the government would be open to the idea of legislating a new financial model for the public broadcaster.
Butme St-Onge has already acknowledged that there is not much time left to make major changes between now and the next election.
“We know there will be elections no later than fall 2025. No, I don’t have much time. Yes, it’s a big challenge,” she admitted.
Mme Tait said she “certainly hopes” that Mme St-Onge will be able to bring together the “brilliant ideas” from the committee of experts between now and the next election.
“She seems to be very energetic,” she said.