New CBC chief says it would be a ‘tragedy’ to dissolve the public broadcaster, could devastate TV and film sector

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The new head of CBC/Radio Canada, in her first public speech since taking the post three weeks ago, says dissolving the CBC would be a tragedy and have a devastating impact on the production of TV shows and films in Canada.

Speaking at an Ottawa conference for the film and TV industry, Marie-Philippe Bouchard, the new president and chief executive officer, said she fears the breakdown of Canada’s media ecosystem in the face of competition from foreign streaming platforms. She warned that removing the public broadcaster could lead to the collapse of that ecosystem.

The Conservatives have said they would cut funding for the CBC, while preserving French services, if they form the next federal government.

Bouchard, who spent 29 years working for the public broadcaster before becoming president and CEO of TV5 Québec Canada, said the CBC has to “evolve” and “figure out how to represent everybody.”

“But I think it would be a tragedy to dissolve something we’ve all inherited,” she said.

Bouchard was speaking at Prime Time, an annual conference in Ottawa run by the Canadian Media Producers Association, where delegates have a chance to pitch their ideas to providers such as Amazon Prime Video and Lionsgate Canada.

The CBC is the biggest commissioner of independent Canadian productions in the country, and conference delegates expressed concern that cuts in CBC funding could hit TV and film production hard.

“They are the biggest buyer in the country. Their whole prime time schedule is Canadian content. Losing their support would be devastating for the independent production community,” said Nicole Mendes, vice-president of scripted development at Lark Productions, which made Allegiance, a highly-rated police drama set in Surrey, B.C., that airs on CBC.

Bouchard said with “less money,” CBC/Radio Canada and other Canadian companies are having a hard time competing with big international streaming platforms, such as Netflix.

“My fear is having a breakdown of the media fabric in Canada, the ability for Canadian-owned media, and all the producers that want to be on those Canadian media, to actually connect with audiences and not be overwhelmed by the force of international platforms, both in terms of entertainment but also in terms of information,” she said.

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Bouchard said the situation is “solvable not by the actions of the public broadcaster alone, but if you take the public broadcaster out of the equation, there’s a big risk of collapse.”

She would not get drawn into the debate about the Conservative pledge to cut the CBC’s funding saying “I’m not going to do any political talk here today or anywhere – ever. I’m not. But I’m aware that there is a debate.”

Her predecessor, Catherine Tait, earned a rebuke from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre two years ago when she accused him of stoking criticism of the CBC, which is meant to be politically impartial.

Senator Andrew Cardozo, who initiated a debate in the Senate on the CBC’s future, said Bouchard is “walking a tightrope” as criticisms of the CBC are very political, but “she is obligated to respond in a totally non-political way.”

He said Trump’s comments about a 51st state create an opportunity for the CBC to be integral to Canada’s national identity.

Bouchard said when she agreed to take the job, Trump had yet to make quips about Canada becoming the 51st state.

“I didn’t know we would be in a kind of psychodrama,” she said. Bouchard said his remarks have catalyzed Canadians to come together and the CBC has a role in cementing the Canadian identity.

“When you have not-so-friendly neighbours talking about a 51st state, I think it’s really important that we focus on maintaining that strength and that distinctiveness of our culture, our common culture,” she said.

Bouchard said that “change is coming” at the CBC and she is currently touring the country to listen to a variety of voices.

The Liberal government has been criticized for failing to update CBC/Radio Canada’s 1991 mandate before Bouchard took the helm this month for a five-year term. She sat on a government-appointed panel looking at a revised mandate last year before she took the top job.

Broadcasting experts said the government should have approved a new funding model for the public broadcaster so that it does not rely on advertisements for revenue in news and current affairs programs, and to shore it up for the future.

But with the Liberal Party embroiled in a leadership race after the resignation of Justin Trudeau, and the proroguing of Parliament until Mar. 24, the chances of legislation to update the CBC’s mandate being passed before the next election are slim.