OTTAWA – The New Democratic Party today released a four-point plan for "broadcast sovereignty".
The four points are:
* Change the governance structure of CBC board of directors — ending the patronage appointment process and giving the board the power to hire or fire the CEO, who is currently appointed by the Prime Minister.
* Ensure stable long term funding to expand regional programming.
* Maintain clear limits on foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves.
* Restore the obligation of Canadian broadcasters to promote home-grown drama.
NDP Heritage Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) said in the release that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Heritage Minister Bev Oda have "to come clean with Canadians on the government’s plan for the CBC."
After years of Liberal neglect, said Angus, a new mandate is necessary to restore the viability of the CBC. “The Liberals have left the CBC in terrible shape. Regional programming was slashed, domestic drama content withered and the corporation limped along with a continual series of patronage appointments. It’s time we pushed for a clear new mandate for the nation’s broadcaster,” he said.
Ending the patronage appointment system is a must for the rebuilding of the CBC to have any credibility, adds the release.
“The current CBC president has routinely locked out employees, cut off programming to the nation, driven Canadian content levels to record lows and all but ignored CRTC expectations,” said Angus. “Yet, the CBC president is unaccountable for his actions.”
