CBC cuts: Strong voice for gov't accountability bullied

OTTAWA, April 4, 2012 /CNW/ - With 650 jobs being cut at the CBC, Canada's largest media union is concerned about the erosion of quality journalism. "Will quality journalism get chilled, regional voices silenced and critical analysis of government gagged?" asks Peter Murdoch, Vice-President Media for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

"A strong voice for demanding government accountability is being bullied," says Murdoch.

"The CBC is not the F-35 gone wrong. Quite the contrary. It is built to serve the public and has wide support across the country. To force the dismantling of it through vindictive withdrawal of resources is abhorrent to the Canadian character and Conservative history."

Murdoch says it was Conservative Prime Minister R.B Bennett, who in 1932 during the establishment of the CBC, said: "I cannot think that any government would be warranted in leaving the air to private exploitation and not reserving it for use of the people."

Murdoch says the depth of the cuts should prompt the resignation of the Federal Minister of Heritage, James Moore.

"The wide-sweeping cutbacks announced today, clearly indicate Mr. Moore does not have the muscle in cabinet to dissuade his right-wing colleagues from their anti-culture, anti-public broadcaster agenda."

"It was only last May, Moore told Canadians that the government would 'maintain or increase support for the CBC.' It must have been the Stephen Harper cabal which demanded the financial attack on the CBC."

Peter Murdoch, [phone]