CBC cuts loom, opposition says Bruce Cheadle
Source : Toronto Star
November 20, 2008
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA–Opposition parties say the Conservative government is softening up the public for looming cuts to one of its favourite ideological targets, the CBC.
Liberals and New Democrats argue the Harper government has already begun laying out its case, enlisting a crashing economy and recent Access to Information revelations about CBC spending in support.
First came Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's off-the-cuff reference to the CBC's $1 billion annual federal subsidy – dropped last weekend in Winnipeg as Flaherty floated the idea of selling federal assets to balance the budget.
A stern letter from Heritage Minister James Moore warning CBC executives to curb their spending in light of "reported excess" was distributed to media outlets Wednesday.
A statement in the House of Commons by a Conservative backbencher followed Thursday, castigating the public broadcaster's "excessive and, frankly, irresponsible spending habits."
And during Question Period yesterday, yet another Tory raised the spectre of past Liberal cuts to the broadcaster's budget.
"The CEO of the CBC actually quit because (Liberals) cut so much money from arts and culture," Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough), Moore's parliamentary secretary, said in response to a question on cultural cuts.
Libby Davies, the NDP heritage critic (Vancouver East), said the messages point to a government "laying the groundwork" for a whack at its favourite whipping boy.
"They're sort of cherry-picking now and zeroing in on expenses ... really setting the stage for something that they want to come up with politically to go after and attack CBC," she said.
Recent stories on the 2006 expenses of Sylvain Lafrance, head of CBC's French services, provided fodder to critics who see the public broadcaster as a wastrel.
The CBC says all the expenses were within corporate limits.
An internal memo to staff this week from CBC president Hubert Lacroix described some of the media stories as "nasty, out-of-context stuff" that freely mingled Lacroix's personal expenses with corporate expenses that he signed off on.
"I want you to know that we will not ignore this issue or sit idly by and watch these attacks happen," Lacroix wrote.
It is no secret that many Conservatives hold the CBC in contempt.
Last December, the party's campaign director, Doug Finley, appealed to party faithful with a fundraising letter that excoriated the CBC as one of the Liberal party's "vested interest allies." Tories said the appeal was a financial success.
Liberal MP Scott Brison (Kings-Hants) said the Conservatives, while ramping up overall federal spending, have shown a willingness to make spending cuts on ideological grounds. He predicted the looming recession will provide more cover for further cuts.
"It would be absolutely consistent with the Conservatives, particularly now when they can use the foil of an economic downturn, to cut programs and institutions they don't like," Brison said. "The CBC would certainly be one of those national institutions that the Conservatives clearly don't like."
The public broadcaster is preparing for tougher days ahead. Lacroix warned staff of falling revenue streams and a projected deficit in television operations. "Our levels of federal funding are never guaranteed," Lacroix wrote in the memo.
Effective yesterday, all new CBC hires must be cleared at the vice-presidential level, he said. "Significant reduction" will be sought in travel, hospitality, duty entertainment and overtime expenses. The CBC restraint measures follow a series of recent cutbacks by other media organizations.
Rival network CTV has said it will lay off some employees, freeze hiring and cut spending. CanWest Global announced last week it is cutting 560 jobs. And The Associated Press announced Thursday it will cut its global workforce of 4,100 by 10 per cent over the next year.
© Toronto Star
OTTAWA–Opposition parties say the Conservative government is softening up the public for looming cuts to one of its favourite ideological targets, the CBC.
Liberals and New Democrats argue the Harper government has already begun laying out its case, enlisting a crashing economy and recent Access to Information revelations about CBC spending in support.
First came Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's off-the-cuff reference to the CBC's $1 billion annual federal subsidy – dropped last weekend in Winnipeg as Flaherty floated the idea of selling federal assets to balance the budget.
A stern letter from Heritage Minister James Moore warning CBC executives to curb their spending in light of "reported excess" was distributed to media outlets Wednesday.
A statement in the House of Commons by a Conservative backbencher followed Thursday, castigating the public broadcaster's "excessive and, frankly, irresponsible spending habits."
And during Question Period yesterday, yet another Tory raised the spectre of past Liberal cuts to the broadcaster's budget.
"The CEO of the CBC actually quit because (Liberals) cut so much money from arts and culture," Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro (Peterborough), Moore's parliamentary secretary, said in response to a question on cultural cuts.
Libby Davies, the NDP heritage critic (Vancouver East), said the messages point to a government "laying the groundwork" for a whack at its favourite whipping boy.
"They're sort of cherry-picking now and zeroing in on expenses ... really setting the stage for something that they want to come up with politically to go after and attack CBC," she said.
Recent stories on the 2006 expenses of Sylvain Lafrance, head of CBC's French services, provided fodder to critics who see the public broadcaster as a wastrel.
The CBC says all the expenses were within corporate limits.
An internal memo to staff this week from CBC president Hubert Lacroix described some of the media stories as "nasty, out-of-context stuff" that freely mingled Lacroix's personal expenses with corporate expenses that he signed off on.
"I want you to know that we will not ignore this issue or sit idly by and watch these attacks happen," Lacroix wrote.
It is no secret that many Conservatives hold the CBC in contempt.
Last December, the party's campaign director, Doug Finley, appealed to party faithful with a fundraising letter that excoriated the CBC as one of the Liberal party's "vested interest allies." Tories said the appeal was a financial success.
Liberal MP Scott Brison (Kings-Hants) said the Conservatives, while ramping up overall federal spending, have shown a willingness to make spending cuts on ideological grounds. He predicted the looming recession will provide more cover for further cuts.
"It would be absolutely consistent with the Conservatives, particularly now when they can use the foil of an economic downturn, to cut programs and institutions they don't like," Brison said. "The CBC would certainly be one of those national institutions that the Conservatives clearly don't like."
The public broadcaster is preparing for tougher days ahead. Lacroix warned staff of falling revenue streams and a projected deficit in television operations. "Our levels of federal funding are never guaranteed," Lacroix wrote in the memo.
Effective yesterday, all new CBC hires must be cleared at the vice-presidential level, he said. "Significant reduction" will be sought in travel, hospitality, duty entertainment and overtime expenses. The CBC restraint measures follow a series of recent cutbacks by other media organizations.
Rival network CTV has said it will lay off some employees, freeze hiring and cut spending. CanWest Global announced last week it is cutting 560 jobs. And The Associated Press announced Thursday it will cut its global workforce of 4,100 by 10 per cent over the next year.
© Toronto Star
