CBC will be spared from the federal government’s cost-cutting efforts.
Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge told CBC host David Cochrane that the Liberals don’t want to “endanger” the state broadcaster.
“There’s actually an increase in money for the CBC for the fiscal year ahead. Is CBC going to have to make that 3% cut?” asked Cochrane.
“We don’t want to endanger the mission and the mandate that CBC-Radio Canada needs to deliver to the Canadian population, especially when it comes to the official languages. So no CBC will not have to do the 3.3% cuts, explained St-Onge.
St-Onge clarified that the government determined the public broadcaster would not face significant cuts after reviewing the situation.
All of us ministers had to do that exercise of looking at our departments and seeing what programs could be remodeled and rebuilt or changed or cut completely because they are no longer needed or efficient. But in the case of CBC Radio-Canada, of course, you know, it’s still as relevant as it is today,” said St-Onge.
“And we know that CBC-Radio Canada, like all other broadcasters, are facing financial difficulties right now. And so I think that the Treasury Board and my colleague Anita Anand, made the right decision when it comes to the public broadcaster.”
This declaration comes amidst financial turbulence for the public broadcaster.
Despite a pledge of an additional $90 million in funding for the upcoming fiscal year by the Trudeau government, CBC has faced challenges including declining revenue, viewership, and recent layoffs amounting to 10% of its workforce.
Documents from Canadian Heritage reveal that for the 2024-25 fiscal year, CBC’s budget will see an increase to approximately $1.4 billion, up from $1.3 billion in the previous year.
However, despite this apparent boost in funding, CBC announced plans to lay off 800 employees due to a projected shortfall of $125 million at the onset of the next fiscal year in April 2024.
