Canadian Heritage Committee on Oct. 21st, 2024

[Catherine Tait]

Yes, that's right.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Like all the other experts we've asked, who don't fall for populism and misinformation, you confirm that CBC and SRC are interrelated.

[Catherine Tait]

That's right.

As I said the other time, the services are integrated in terms of technology, premises and experts, among other things, but not editorially.

We work together.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Ms. Tait, there are a lot of concerns about disinformation. This is often orchestrated by foreign agents, by foreign nations or by countries like Russia or China, which are suspected of interfering in certain political parties, but also in the media apparatus. I talked about this in the first round of questions.

Did you know that some countries, like Finland, are absolutely impervious to disinformation? The Russians don't even try to spread disinformation in Finland, because the Finns are made aware of this subject from an early age. In the Finnish school system, young citizens are made aware of the dangers of disinformation as soon as they are able to think and think critically.

Do you think the public broadcaster has a role to play in educating people about disinformation?

[Catherine Tait]

Absolutely.

As we know, education is a provincial responsibility, but that's exactly the kind of work we do through Mon actualité du jour, MAJ, a CBC newsletter aimed at young people, and Kids News, on the CBC side.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I don't want to generalize and I don't want to point to any particular media.

Does the arrival of many new sources of information, each more questionable than the last—these are often sources that are openly partisan or politically committed—mean that the traditional news media tend to want to align themselves with positions, to do a little more editorial work, but a little less rigorous journalism? If so, does this worry the news media?

[Catherine Tait]

This is exactly why we need a strong, well-funded public broadcaster. We have the highest journalistic standards and practices in Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

I'm giving leeway here to get answers and questions through, so just remember that, but try not to go so much over time, guys. Thank you.

For the NDP, we have Niki Ashton for two and a half minutes please.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Thank you. I want to start with a comment.

Ms. Tait, you referred to some personal details with respect to the reporter who was here in northern Manitoba. I find that unacceptable and frankly irrelevant. The bottom line here is that the CBC has failed to fill the position in any sort of full-time, long-term situation, and I don't think relying on personal details of the reporter who was here is fair game or acceptable and is frankly unprofessional coming from the CEO of a corporation as well. I do hope that the CBC actually does its job and fills the position long term as its mandate requires it to do.

Moving on, True North, is a conspiracy website that has denied the genocide of indigenous peoples in Canada, has peddled all sorts of conspiracy theories, has done interviews with the leader of a banned white supremacist group and has also sat down with a number of Conservative MPs, including the leader of the Conservatives, Mr. Poilievre.

In one such interview, Mr. Poilievre argued to defund the CBC, which is no surprise. He's talked about this many times. He's even quoted as saying “I can't wait to defund the CBC.” This is unacceptable, and it is heartbreaking for so many Canadians who rely on a strong public broadcaster. This is core to who we are as Canadians, who we are as a country. It is particularly important in regions like ours, and I would argue in every single region across the country.

However, when we see $18 million worth of bonuses, or, as you call it, performance pay, we know that this contributes to the negative reputation that the CBC has, particularly at a time when so many Canadians are struggling.

Do you agree that the next head of the CBC should save jobs by ending outrageous executive bonuses?

[Catherine Tait]

I believe that the board of directors has taken the appropriate action, and based on the results of that report, will no doubt share the results with my successor, and they will plan accordingly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have 20 seconds, Ms. Ashton.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

We know from access to information requests that you're on the record as being concerned about the movement to defund the CBC. We've also heard that you don't live in regret, given the bonuses that you and other executives have received.

What I find deeply concerning is the inability to connect the doling out of these bonuses with the criticism that a lot of Canadians have of the CBC for doing that. That's not the role of a public broadcaster. It's not the role of a Crown corporation. We know that here, in regions like ours, you're not fulfilling your mandate in terms of broadcasting.

What are these bonuses for?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you, Ms. Ashton.

We have a second round. I'll go to Mr. Jivani for the Conservatives. You have five minutes, Mr. Jivani.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Tait, I want to clarify a couple of things I heard today.

First, did you say you were on a personal trip to France, decided to extend your vacation, went to the Olympics and then billed the taxpayer for it? Is that correct?

[Catherine Tait]

I was on a personal trip to France, and I did not bill the taxpayer for my flight or travel from Canada.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

What did you bill the taxpayer for?

[Catherine Tait]

It was for the hotel and the train to get to Paris.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Where does your personal trip end and your taxpayer billing begin?

[Catherine Tait]

As part of my job, being at the opening of the Olympics was absolutely expected of me, so I interrupted my holiday and took the four days to go to the Olympics.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Could you understand why that sounds concerning to somebody? It's a bit of a weird situation. You get to go on a trip, you're having your personal time, and then you just unilaterally get to decide what becomes work and what doesn't.

[Catherine Tait]

Not if I'm not charging the company for the trip.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

But you charged the taxpayer $6,000 for your time in Paris.

[Catherine Tait]

That's correct. When I was working in Paris, I did.

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Could you understand why it would be concerning for somebody to think that you get to make that decision completely on your own?

[Catherine Tait]

It would be concerning if the CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada did not attend the opening of the Olympics, given that it was one of the most important events of our calendar year.