Gatineau – March 7, 2016 – The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) met with Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly in Gatineau today to make the case for critical funding for CBC/Radio-Canada needed to stop the ongoing cuts in programming, jobs and production capacity. In addition to the $150 million the government has committed to the CBC, the union urged the Minister to review a 2008 Heritage Committee recommendation to increase CBC’s funding to $40 per capita (currently $29).

Another issue discussed was the government’s commitment to a public and transparent  process for appointments. CMG pressed the Minister to review the appointment process for CBC Board and President as soon as possible.

“The government needs to act now to undo the serious damage done by the Conservatives’ debilitating cuts to CBC/Radio-Canada. Recent cuts are destroying programming including local news, and diminishing the CBC’s ability to do production,” said Carmel Smyth, CMG president.

Other CMG recommendations to the Minister include making Canadian content production a priority and repealing a 2013 Conservative measure that allows government interference at CBC/Radio-Canada.