FACE TO FACE: Should Canadian taxpayers continue to help fund CBC?
Last month, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation celebrated its 75th birthday.
It wasn't necessarily a very happy birthday for the storied national broadcaster, however, as it continues to battle a growing chorus of negative public opinion.
I'll add my voice to that choir.
During a difficult economic climate while the federal government is looking to cut $4 billion from its operating expenditures, taxpayers continue to fund the CBC to the tune of $1.1 billion a year.
Don't get me wrong, I like Hockey Night in Canada and Little Mosque on the Prairie just as much as the next guy but I fail to see how taxpayers are getting value for their bucks.
My colleague opposite argues the CBC plays a role in promoting educational efforts about our country's history, culture and identity.
But I must ask, how do Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and Coronation Street - all currently part of CBC's prime time schedule - promote Canadian culture?
Why should the TSNs and Sportsnets of the world have to compete against a taxpayer-funded entity for rights to broadcast sporting events?
Why should privately owned television stations and websites have to compete against a public broadcaster for advertising revenue, for staff and for product?
It's simply ridiculous.
Instead of spending $1.1 billion annually on a national broadcaster, why don't we invest more money into developing a more vibrant domestic television and film production industry?
Let's contribute more dollars to community arts groups, performers and visual artists.
Let's add a Canadian Heritage course to our high school curriculum.
Back east, Ezra Levant of Sun Media News has taken on the CBC with a number of on-air rants and editorials. What he says makes sense: "The Canadian government used to own a gas station called PetroCanada. It was privatized. No big deal. The Canadian government used to own an airline called Air Canada. It was privatized. No big deal," he recently wrote. "The Canadian government owns a TV and radio station called the CBC. It should be privatized, too. Set taxpayers free from the CBC."
It is indeed time to sell-off the assets of CBC and find other, cost-effective ways to promote our culture and heritage.
Andy Radia is a Coquitlam resident and political columnist who writes for Yahoo! Canada News and Vancouver View Magazine. He has been politically active in the Tri-Cities, having been involved with election campaigns at all three levels of government, including running for Coquitlam city council in 2005.
