The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is
one of Canada's most important cultural treasures. But the actions of CBCs current management have put CBC in jeopardy. Today, Canadians risk losing this icon of cultural identity.
We must not let this tragedy happen!
Please tell Prime Minister Harper that we want CBC restored as a strong PUBLIC broadcaster!
Recent decisions demonstrate CBCs management is running CBC like a private broadcaster, not the PUBLIC broadcaster it should be.
Just last week, a U.S. reality TV show pushed CBCs flagship news program, The National, out of its usual time slot for viewers east of Manitoba. And in the past 12 months, CBC management has:
- effectively shut down CBC with the lock out 5,500 English-language employees for seven weeks;
- cancelled of some of the best drama shows CBC has ever broadcast; and
- depressed Canadian content on CBC-TV to record lows.
Even though the Minister of Canadian Heritage advocates reviewing the CBCs mandate, Prime Minister Harper has intervened to postpone this review. In the mean time, CBC continues to head further and further in the wrong direction.
American reality shows are already widely available. But high-quality shows about Canada the kind of programs CBC should be broadcasting - are not. This is the last straw.
Urge Prime Minister Harper to make the CBC mandate review an early priority!Dear Prime Minister Harper,
As a Canadian voter, I think CBC's decision to bump Peter Mansbridge to make room for a failed US reality show that has since been canceled by executives in Hollywood demonstrates that CBC and its current management have lost sight of CBCs public broadcasting mandate.
After shutting down CBC for seven weeks during the lockout last summer, canceling some of the best Canadian drama shows CBC-TV has ever broadcast, and behaving more and more like a private TV network, it's clear to me that CBC management lacks the competence to run our public broadcaster.
I understand that the government has decided to postpone a review of CBC's mandate, but I don't think CBC can wait much longer for a review, especially with the current management group in place.
I am gravely worried about the future of CBC. That's why I am writing to ask you to please make the CBC mandate review an early priority. Please get back to me to let me know what action you've taken on my concerns.
[Your comment]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Copies To: Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda
The Honourable Bill Graham, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois
The Honourable Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
