Bloc condemns reported integration of CBC English and French services

The Bloc Québécois has sounded the alarm after a report in La Presse that CBC/Radio-Canada is planning to merge some of its operations between English and French services. The party raised the matter twice this week during question period in the House of Commons. The Montreal newspaper reported that a transformation plan is in the works that would see fewer executives in the company administer files as it continues its digital transition. This is due to a fear from CBC that digital giants are looming large on the broadcast horizon. Some in the French section of the broadcaster worry this would threaten cultural sensitivities. On Friday, BQ MP Marilène Gill charged that the moves are an act of desperation by management at the Crown corporation. “The goal is to protect the CBC from a future Conservative government that plans to make cuts to English-language public television” she asserted in French. “It has nothing to do with modernization, it has nothing to do with digital, it has nothing to do with efficiency.” Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge replied in French that the Bloc was engaged in speculation about the plans and pledged the Liberals will stick up for French material on the public broadcaster. “I would like to reassure them that French-language content and programming for Radio-Canada will remain distinct,” she said. “Francophones throughout Canada watch Radio-Canada, Radio-Canada will use taxpayer money wisely.” Gill followed up with a suggestion that the broadcaster be split into two separate bodies. St-Onge was having none of it. “The Bloc does not seem to understand that Crown corporations are managed internally, at arm’s length from government and that is very important for freedom of the press for our public broadcaster,” the minister responded. Thursday, CBC/Radio-Canada put out a press release that sought to clarify the situation. “This project aims to secure the digital future of CBC/Radio-Canada and make the most of our limited resources, particularly in terms of technology,” the company wrote. “It does not aim to eliminate the editorial and programming independence of our English or French media services.” It said weakening of local media and the rise of the digital firms present new challenges. The transformation project will respect the priority of CBC. “We are aware of our responsibilities,” the firm stated. “We will always respect the DNA of CBC/Radio-Canada, namely a strong public media in both official languages, dedicated to serving all Canadians.” The same day, Gill’s colleague Alain Therrien raised the La Presse report with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. “Radio-Canada is not in crisis. CBC is in crisis” he claimed. “Closer ties will mean concessions made at the expense of Quebec culture and Quebec creators. Our cultural identity will be taken away and we will be assimilated into English Canada's identity. This is a very dangerous slippery slope.” Freeland did not accept Therrien’s premise. “I can assure all Canadians that French-language broadcasting will not be touched,” she stated. “That is a priority for us.” Therrien, too, proposed that the corporation be split in two. At a Thursday press scrum after question period, St-Onge dismissed the Bloc’s concerns. “CBC/Radio-Canada has obligations towards the French population in Quebec and across Canada,” she said in English, “and they have a mandate to respect, and in no way will this mandate be affected by any kind of internal modernization of the public broadcaster.” – Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca

Bloc condemns reported integration of CBC English and French services

Broadcast | May 3, 2024

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Bloc condemns reported integration of CBC English and French services

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