The Liberals promised to strengthen the CBC. Now They’re Cutting It.

At a time when misinformation spreads faster than facts, when small-town papers are shuttering, and when the media landscape is dominated by billionaires and algorithms, what does this government propose? A 15% cut to the CBC.

Not long ago - in fact, just a couple of weeks before they called the election - the Liberals campaigned on a promise to solidify and strengthen funding for the CBC. They stood in front of microphones and told Canadians they understood the importance of public broadcasting for democracy, for culture, for national unity and they were prepared to put legislation forward to protect our public broadcaster.

Now, they’re walking away from that commitment.

It’s not just disappointing. It’s a betrayal. And it is one more example of how the Liberals seem to be playing from Pierre Poilievre’s playbook. Mr. Poilievre has spent years attacking and undermining the CBC, going so far as to call for it to be defunded entirely. And now, like the Conservatives, the Liberals are trying to limit a public broadcaster that holds politicians accountable.

We all know that a strong media landscape is fundamental for a strong democracy. So let’s be clear: this isn’t how you protect democracy. It’s how you erode it with one broken promise and one budget cut at a time.

CBC/Radio-Canada connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It covers stories no one else will from climate disasters in rural Alberta to elections in Nunavut. It broadcasts in French, English, and Indigenous languages. It uplifts Canadian music, film, and storytelling. And in far too many communities, it’s the only local newsroom left standing.

This isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline for many Canadians in our big, diverse, and beautiful country.

And here’s the thing: Canada already underfunds the CBC compared to other countries. The UK’s BBC gets about $130 per person per year. Australia’s ABC receives roughly $80. The CBC? Just $34. That’s a fraction of what’s needed to cover a country this vast and diverse.

Even with those constraints, CBC delivers world-class journalism. It uncovers corruption. It challenges power. It tells our stories to each other, and to the world.

The Liberals may be proposing a 15% cut. But make no mistake Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives want 100%. Their campaign to “defund the CBC” is a dangerous, ideological crusade. Not because CBC is broken, but because it works. Because it tells the truth. Because it doesn’t answer to shareholders or lobbyists. And because a strong CBC makes it harder to spread disinformation and rage-bait propaganda.

When the Liberals abandon their commitment to public media, they don’t just betray voters, they hand fuel to those who want to dismantle it altogether.

CBC isn’t perfect. No institution is. But it’s ours. And it’s worth fighting for.

We should be investing in journalism that serves the public interest, not slashing its funding. We should be expanding access to local news, not pulling the plug. And we should expect our elected leaders to keep their promises, especially when it comes to protecting the foundations of our democracy.

New Democrats have always stood with CBC. We always will.

Because when you weaken the CBC, you weaken Canada. And we can’t afford to let that happen. Not now, not ever.