CBC’s new chief executive officer has suggested that Pierre Poilievre poses an “existential threat” to the public broadcaster.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, who took over for Catherine Tait in early January, also said that despite backlash over bonuses given to executives in the past, she was unsure whether she would receive one herself.
During an interview with the ‘s Matt Galloway, Bouchard was asked about the Conservative leader’s repeated promise to defund the network, thereby doing away with all English services and leaving only some French services.
She noted that while it remains to be seen whether Poilievre gets elected and actually follows through on those plans, it was nonetheless worrying.
“It is to some extent an existential threat because it wouldn’t be the same corporation that we have today,” Bouchard said of the plan. “There’s a limit to how we can absorb budgetary change in the government money that is attributed to us to manage every year, and so yes, there are risks in many areas. We have to consider there’s a possibility something happens in that line, so what would be left depends on how it’s executed.”
She suggested cutting government funding would “cripple” both the English and French services, and create a void in the nation’s media landscape.
Bouchard called public media “an incredible tool” in the fight against misinformation and disinformation, especially for younger Canadians, emphasizing that she wants to “make sure that it exists for future generations as well.”
On the issue of bonuses, she acknowledged the controversy under Tait’s rule and noted that the results of an independent review requested by the CBC’s board of directors should be available in the coming weeks.
“I’ve just started this job,” Bouchard said, “so the issue of whether or not a bonus is available, or should be awarded, is not even an issue.”
The newly appointed boss of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has made a bold statement, calling Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre an “existential threat” to the public broadcaster. In a recent interview, the CBC boss expressed concerns about Poilievre’s stance on funding for the CBC and his past criticisms of the organization.
Poilievre, who has been a vocal critic of the CBC in the past, has called for cuts to the broadcaster’s funding and has questioned its role in Canadian media. The new CBC boss’s comments suggest that he sees Poilievre’s views as a serious threat to the future of the public broadcaster.
It remains to be seen how this tension between the CBC and Poilievre will play out in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, chief executive officer of CBC/Radio-Canada, at the CBC offices in Montreal on Jan. 29.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
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.
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.”
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.
The newly appointed chief of the CBC, who has taken the reins of Canada’s public broadcaster, has spoken out about the potential consequences of dissolving the institution. In a recent interview, the chief emphasized that it would be a ‘tragedy’ to dissolve the CBC, warning that such a move could have devastating effects on the country’s TV and film sector.
The chief highlighted the important role that the CBC plays in promoting Canadian content and supporting local creators. Without the CBC, the chief argued, the Canadian TV and film industry could suffer greatly, with fewer opportunities for Canadian talent to showcase their work and limited access to Canadian stories and perspectives.
The chief’s comments come at a time when the future of the CBC has been called into question, with some critics advocating for the dissolution of the public broadcaster. However, the chief’s remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the vital role that the CBC plays in Canada’s cultural landscape, and the potential consequences of dismantling such an important institution.
As discussions about the future of the CBC continue, it is clear that the chief is committed to defending the public broadcaster and ensuring that it continues to thrive. The chief’s words serve as a rallying cry for supporters of the CBC, urging them to stand up and protect this crucial pillar of Canadian media.
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CBC chief, public broadcaster, TV and film sector, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, media industry, government funding, cultural impact, Canadian television, public service broadcasting, Canadian content, television programming, film production, media landscape, Canadian media, public support, national broadcaster
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