SIGN PETITION: FREE THE CBC FROM POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

[Oscar]

SIGN PETITION: FREE THE CBC FROM POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

WATCH VIDEO:

[ http://www.friends.ca/freethecbc/state-broadcaster-2/ ]

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN:

More than 250,000 Canadians* who have joined the campaign to Free the CBC stand together with the vast majority of Canadians who believe the CBC must remain independent from governmental control.

Our task ahead is now clear.

We must hold Harper’s Conservatives accountable for their agenda to destroy public broadcasting in Canada.

We do not have a single moment to spare on the road to the next election and the opportunity to make Harper answer for his record.

With your help, starting today, we will deliver our biggest and most intense on-the-ground campaign in defence of CBC's independence. And this will continue throughout the months leading up to the next general election.

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In most free and democratic countries, journalists hold governments accountable.

Stephen Harper is trying to put an end to that.

Now that Bill C-60 is the law of the land, the Harper government can exercise control over the wages and working conditions of all CBC employees, including all those who produce news and current affairs programs.

This gives Stephen Harper an unprecedented capacity to undermine the CBC’s editorial independence and turn our national public broadcaster into a government propaganda machine – a state broadcaster!

The CBC must now contend with more political interference than any public broadcaster in the free and democratic world.

A NANOS Research Poll [ http://www.friends.ca/poll/11549 ] shows just how isolated Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have become, standing alone as a rogue government desperate to control and silence the CBC and other media outlets.

Together, we can hold Harper’s Conservatives accountable for their agenda to destroy public broadcasting in Canada.

Please join the campaign by signing the petition!
[ http://www.friends.ca/freethecbc/state-broadcaster-2/ ]

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MAY'S REPLY: Free the CBC of political interference

----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca
To: tybach@sasktel.net
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 6:59 AM
Subject: RE: Free the CBC of political interference

Thank you for taking the time to write to us about CBC. Like you, I believe that Canada needs a strong public broadcaster, with stable funding and complete independence from government interference.

Unfortunately, the Harper Conservatives are attempting to use their latest omnibus budget legislation, Bill C-60, to establish political control over employment decisions taken within CBC. This new power could allow the Conservatives to shut down critical media coverage by CBC journalists, who would live in fear of losing their jobs.

Canadians have long been concerned that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wanted to get rid of CBC. It now appears that Harper did the political math: realizing that Canadians would not forgive him if he dismantled the CBC, he has decided to hobble and co-opt it.

Even though Bill C-60 has made its way through the House of Commons, I will do everything I can to defend the CBC, including tabling amendments to protect its independence. Please take a few minutes to call Conservative Members of Parliament and ask them to vote against any Bill that undermines the independence of the CBC. You can find a list of Members of Parliament on the Parliamentary website:

[ http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliame ... Language=E ]

Sincerely,

Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada

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MULCAIR'S REPLY: Free the CBC of political interference

----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Mulcair
To: tybach@sasktel.net
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 2:43 PM
Subject: NDP defends CBC/ Radio-Canada against Conservative attack

Thank you for contacting me about the recent Conservative omnibus budget legislation, Bill C-60, that targets the very independence of the CBC as well as the autonomy of other cultural institutions.

New Democrats oppose the Conservatives' relentless, ideological attacks on the freedom of the press and the right to collective bargaining. The new sweeping powers in Bill C-60 give his government unprecedented powers to dictate employment terms for workers and managers at CBC — including the work of journalists questioning the actions of his government.

Furthermore, the Harper government is trying to extend the same level of influence with other Crown institutions including the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm, and our national museums. Such interference will diminish the independence of our key cultural institutions — a freedom that is fundamental to telling our national stories and supporting our cultural industry.

Canadians deserve better.

I met with Friends of Canadian Broadcasting to discuss these new challenges facing the CBC. New Democrats have a long history of fighting both Conservative and Liberal cutbacks to the CBC/Radio-Canada. We stand in solidarity against this serious threat to the independence of Crown corporations serving the public interest.

We tried to remove the CBC from Bill C-60. (http://www.ndp.ca/news/ndp-to-table-ame ... c-out-c-60) In defeating our amendment, the Conservative government showed further disregard for the concerns of Canadians who want to protect the independence of the CBC.

NDP Labour critic Alexandre Boulerice is working with Canadian unions on a campaign against these draconian measures. He said, "The NDP is concerned that this potential for interference will impact the ability of these corporations to retain high quality workers and effectively serve Canadians.”

It is clear that the Conservatives are fixated on stripping workers' rights and the independence of crown corporations like the CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada Post, Bank of Canada and VIA Rail. We will continue to defend these interests in the House of Commons. And, we will continue to remind the Conservative government of their gross mismanagement of taxpayers' money — especially the missing $3.1 billion reported by the Auditor-General. Canadians expect better management of their money and want better investments in the things they care about including the CBC.

[ http://www.ndp.ca/news/autonomy-crown-c ... nd-workers ]

Going forward, the NDP will continue with our efforts to ensure adequate and stable funding so Canadians can count on having national and local programming in their region. We also value the important role that CBC/Radio-Canada plays as a powerful engine of support for our cultural industry. Our arts and culture sector adds billions annually to our economy and warrants the collaborative support of the CBC/Radio-Canada.

Again, thank you for adding your voice to this effort. You can count on our Official Opposition team to continue fighting hard against Conservative attacks on the CBC/Radio-Canada.

All the best,

Thomas Mulcair, M.P. (Outremont)
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party of Canada

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