Newly released documents suggest a disconnect between the CBC’s environmental narratives and internal practices, notably its executives’ reliance on gas-intensive personal transport.
In a surprising revelation unveiled by Rebel News, Canada’s state broadcaster, CBC, has reportedly spent $131,761.47 on personal drivers for its executives since 2019, despite intensifying their climate change coverage.
Government documents released by Rebel News shed light on this expense, revealing a disparity between the broadcaster’s public stance and internal practices. Despite vocalizing strong support for climate action and dedicating extensive coverage to the topic, the use of gas-intensive vehicles for executive transportation seems to contrast starkly with the network’s environmental commitments.
CBC’s previous statements highlighted their intentions to bolster climate change coverage. “Our own research tells us that Canadians want to understand what’s happening (the facts and the science) and learn more about what can be done. There is a hunger for constructive solutions,” CBC said.
The organization had even brought on board a senior producer, Anand Ram, with a specific mandate to oversee climate coverage.
“Under the banner “Our Changing Planet,” CBC News, Current Affairs and Local will make climate change a significant focus of our journalism and a priority area of coverage across our newsrooms, programs and digital platforms,” said CBC.
Yet, in an apparent inconsistency, the data reveals that CBC executives continued to utilize the services of personal drivers, predominantly using vehicles like the Ford Explorer.
Interestingly, while 2020 saw the cessation of the approximately $45,000/year private driver position due to COVID-related concerns, the broadcaster didn’t entirely forego the service. Instead, CBC shifted to contract-based drivers, amounting to approximately $4,400 in 2022 and projected to be approximately $6,000 in 2023.
Furthermore, the expenditure records hint at a preference for gasoline over more eco-friendly alternatives. For instance, CBC reportedly spent 11 times more on gasoline ($6,631.67) than ethanol ($604.69).
While the specifics and motivations behind these decisions remain under wraps, these revelations raise questions about the alignment between the CBC’s public messaging and its internal policies. The broadcaster has yet to comment on the matter.
