Outgoing federal Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has proposed significant changes to CBC/Radio-Canada’s operations, aiming to bar the public broadcaster from running advertisements during news programming and charging subscription fees for digital platforms such as CBC Gem. In return, the federal government would increase the public broadcaster’s funding, providing more stability and aligning it with international standards.
According to St-Onge, the current public funding CBC/Radio-Canada receives is about half the G7 average for national public broadcasters, and she expressed a desire to bring it more in line with the support seen in other countries. The minister emphasized the importance of maintaining and enshrining impartiality in CBC’s news coverage, making it a key part of the broadcaster’s mandate.
In her plan, released Friday, St-Onge outlined her vision for the future of CBC/Radio-Canada, highlighting the critical role of public broadcasting in delivering reliable and unbiased news to Canadians. She acknowledged that the current financial model, which partially relies on advertising revenue and subscription fees, undermines the public broadcaster’s independence and risks compromising its commitment to impartiality. St-Onge argued that with stronger public funding, CBC would be better positioned to fulfill its mandate without external commercial pressures.
However, implementing this vision faces significant challenges, as an election is expected this spring. St-Onge, who recently became a new mother, announced that she will not be running for re-election. She expressed her desire to focus on her family and spend more time with her young child during these formative years.
The timing of the election and her decision not to seek re-election make it unlikely that her proposed reforms for CBC/Radio-Canada will be enacted in the near future. Despite this, St-Onge’s proposals have sparked discussions about the future of public broadcasting in Canada and the importance of supporting impartial and accessible news coverage.
Source: Swifteradio.com
