Killing CBC would be a blow to journalism

DEAR EDITOR:

Federal Conservative leader Erin O’Toole tells us he’s politically “moderate.”

He also tells us he will privatize the CBC by the end of his first term as prime minister. Prior to that, he will (in his words) “slash funding for English TV and CBC News Network, and end funding for digital news.” Does this sound moderate?

We all agree that a free press is essential to democracy. But, in free-enterprise countries, the “free press” is not totally free.

Don’t expect exposes of Amazon in the Washington Post, which is owned by Jeff Bezos. For non-partisan views of public events, we turn to public broadcasting. CBC bends over backwards to be non-partisan, and most Canadians see that.

What has Mr. O’Toole got against the CBC?

For years, right-wing Conservatives have complained that CBC has a left-wing bias, despite its use of a broad spectrum of voices.

In a democracy, we don’t jail journalists. But some Conservatives have a hateon for journalists who dig up facts that make them look bad.

When ideologies leave their underground lair, they can be hunted and killed by facts.

That’s why some politicians are so keen to hide facts.

Stephen Harper abolished the irreplaceable long-form census, which not only guides public planning and free-enterprise planning, but also reveals the unmet needs of the under-privileged.

Harper also banned public comments (unless approved by the PMO) by almost all federal workers, including scientists, diplomats, Tory backbenchers, and even Tory cabinet members.

Why did Harper silence the people who helped him govern? I suggest that his aim was to suppress facts—especially facts about income disparity, federal funding cuts and climate change.

Harper had a need for secrecy. He sensed that his legislative agenda would be rejected if Canadians fully understood it.

Private TV networks are driven by profit, not by public service. Privatizing the CBC would severely curtail investigative journalism in Canada.

O’Toole is bolder than Harper, who quietly gave the CBC a series of smaller cuts. One critic called it “the death of 1,000 cuts.”

Mr. O’Toole’s plan to de-fund the CBC is not popular. Polls show that 70-80% of Canadians want CBC funding to be maintained or increased.

But de-funding the CBC is part of O’Toole’s election platform. If he becomes prime minister, he will likely push it forward.

Gary Willis, Kelowna