CMG rally today in Ottawa as CBC Board meets to discuss more cuts to the public broadcaster

OTTAWA, June 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Today at noon in the front of the CBC building at 181 Queen street (Bank and O'Connor), the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) will hold a rally to urge CBC board members to take their role to heart as they deal with the current round of cuts announced in April, and possibly yet another round of cuts soon to be announced.

The CMG is organising the rally in collaboration of other local and national organizations that support the national public broadcaster.

"We want to remind CBC board members that they are in charge of a public broadcaster that Canadians value and rely on," said Carmel Smyth, National president for the Canadian Media Guild. "The board must stop the ongoing cuts and push the government to fund CBC adequately."  

CMG has outlined the harmful impact the cuts are causing to the national public broadcaster including:  watering down of reporting and coverage; diminishing local programming; damaging a critical cultural incubator; abandoning sports and loss of diversity.

According to Marc-Philippe Laurin, president of the CMG branch at CBC, it's time for the CBC board to stand up for CBC/Radio-Canada and demand multi-year stable funding so that the CBC can continue to deliver the radio, television and online services Canadians deserve in communities across the country. "We are asking them to reverse recent cuts, vote against further cuts, and join CMG in asking for funding that helps CBC meet its mandate to Canadians."

In a letter to the CBC board, CMG asks board members to join the union in calling on the government to:

• Immediately reverse the $115 million Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP)
• Reinstate the Local Programming Improvement Fund
• Increase funding to about half the average of what developed countries invest in their public broadcaster or $43.5 per capita per year.

Where:  Ottawa, 181 Queen street (Bank and O'Connor) – in front of the CBC building
When:   Tuesday, June 17 at Noon

SOURCE: Canadian Media Guild

Spokespeople: Carmel Smyth, [phone]; Marc-Philippe Laurin, [phone]; Jeanne d'Arc Umurungi, [phone]