Evidence of meeting #20 for Canadian Heritage in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cbc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:15 p.m.
National President, Canadian Media Guild
My answer to your question is this. Just hang on, we can switch over to him.
There's a problem right now, and let's get away from partisan politics.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
No, because there have been partisan remarks made by the witnesses.
6:15 p.m.
National President, Canadian Media Guild
The problem is the relationship with the government of the day, and that's any day. That means the government of today, of ten years ago, or of twenty years ago and the CBC. That is the problem. Your committee identified this last year. We need a seven-year contract between the government and the CBC so that we're not subject to these annual budgetary discussions.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Ms. Larouche, do you feel that the Liberal Party also had a vendetta to get rid of the CBC, since they actually cut money from the CBC while we have not?
6:15 p.m.
President, Fédération nationale des communications
I would agree with Ms. Lareau: we are not here for political purposes.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
That's not the question. You made a specific partisan remark. You said that the government of the day had a vendetta against the CBC.
6:15 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:15 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Okay. I have an intervention.
Could I have just one second until we get some order here? I don't want to have to use my gavel. I've never used my gavel to get order yet.
We will stick to the questions. Again, there were some questions that came from this side of the table, and I didn't stop the answers from coming from the other end. This side of the table is asking questions right now, and I respect an answer from the other end. If we're not going to get that without intervention, then.... The question has been asked. If you don't want to answer the question in front of this committee, then send the report and the reply through me, and I will send it.
Carry on, Mr. Del Mastro.
6:15 p.m.
President, Fédération nationale des communications
I did not say that I did not want to answer the question. I began by saying that we were not here for partisan purposes. As Ms. Lareau said, at this point in CBC/Radio-Canada's development, the government is putting the pressure on and cutting its funding. That is the current government. I am not saying that the Liberals never—
6:15 p.m.
President, Fédération nationale des communications
I thought I was answering.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Hold on, it's my turn to talk. It's actually my time right now.
The point is that we have not reduced funding to the CBC, not a dime. In fact, we've only increased funding to the CBC, and your own numbers back that up. In your own testimony today you indicated that 5% of the funding was $58 million--I've heard $56 million. Regardless, it's more money than what the CBC was getting when we took government. It's more money. Yes, it is. Absolutely. I'll give you my calculator when I'm done. Please.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
You're welcome to respond to what I've asked. My question is, do you believe the government of the day, since you're saying you think our government has a vendetta against the CBC, is trying to shut it down?
6:15 p.m.
President, CBC Branch, Canadian Media Guild
Let me answer your question.
6:15 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Do you believe the Liberal Party had the same objective when it cut 4,000 jobs and $400 million?
6:15 p.m.
President, CBC Branch, Canadian Media Guild
I believe Ms. Lavallée asked what our members were feeling and what the sentiment was from our members with the current round of downsizing and cuts at CBC. I believe her question was, do you feel the government is against the CBC? I responded that certainly is the sentiment, and it's the sentiment of the membership I represent. Our folks feel there's always been a bad...between the two.
When it comes to the numbers, I believe attached to your document--
