The public broadcaster is also the backbone of Canadian culture. Our budget contributes to an information and creative industry that generates $73 billion in the Canadian economy every year and provides jobs for 630,000 Canadians.
Let's not forget the thousands of amateur athletes who would remain unknown here at home and on the world stage if not for the public broadcaster's commitment to showcasing their talent. What better example is there of this than this summer's Olympics and Paralympics in Paris? Twenty-seven million Canadians—that's seven in 10—came to CBC/Radio-Canada to celebrate Canada's athletes. The Olympics gave the lift that all Canadians needed. It was a truly nation-building event.
In other countries, access to Olympic coverage increasingly means paying for it, and coverage is limited to 17 days every other year, but not here in Canada. CBC/Radio-Canada's commitment is to year-round coverage of amateur athletes and to gender parity in all sports.
Despite the challenges, CBC/Radio-Canada continues to meet the changing needs of Canadians. Some 21 million Canadians now depend on our digital services each month for news. Millions are streaming video and audio in English and French across our platforms, and that's in addition to our award-winning radio and television services.
We are serving Canadians. That service is something worth celebrating and, certainly, worth fighting for.
Thank you.