A new federal budget is fast approaching, and it offers a vital opportunity to ensure the long-term sustainability of Canadian news and storytelling.
Mark Carney’s Liberal government was elected on a promise to safeguard CBC/Radio-Canada, particularly when it comes to local news, and now is the time for them to deliver. That means protecting it from cuts that would impact jobs and programming, providing it with an initial $150 million funding boost, and tabling a plan to align budget levels with those of its international counterparts.
With avowed CBC defunder Pierre Poilievre returning to the House of Commons, now is not the time to waver on strengthening our national public broadcaster.
Meanwhile, the crisis facing the Canadian media sector is worsening by the day. And when our media suffers, our economy suffers. A new study commissioned by Friends of Canadian Media and our partners shows that our media ecosystem supports nearly 170,000 jobs and contributes an estimated $21 billion to Canada’s GDP.
That’s why it’s critical that our government close the tax loophole that allows Big Tech to siphon off billions in Canadian advertising dollars every year – money that should be going to domestic news, programming, and jobs. And we’re also calling on Ottawa to lead by example by redirecting at least 25% of federal advertising spending towards domestic news outlets.
With a budget coming in a matter of weeks, there’s not a moment to lose. So, write to the Finance Minister today and tell him to stand up for Canadian news and culture.