TORONTO. Today’s decision to phase out the Local Programming Improvement Fund will harm local TV programming in smaller cities and regions and further undermines CBC’s ability to meet its mandate to the Canadian public.

 According to the CRTC decision, the LPIF will be phased out by 2014, the year the final federal budget cuts will hit the public broadcaster. As a result, CBC will have lost a total of $155 million, or nearly 15% of its funding.

 The Canadian Media Guild, which argued in favour of the fund before it was introduced in 2009, is disappointed with the decision. The CRTC now must use the CBC’s upcoming licence renewal hearing to examine what other regulatory means can be used to support programming that meets the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and serves the needs and interests of Canadians.

For more information, please contact the Guild (info@cmg.ca) at 416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149.