Thank you, Madam Chair.
Given that we've had, I think, an exhaustive discussion today with Madam Tait and Mr. Goldbloom, there are a couple of key things that are worth putting on the record.
The first is that Ms. Tait noted that under the Conservatives, the per capita bonuses paid to CBC executives on an inflationary basis actually were higher under the Harper government than they are now, despite the misinformation that is now already being spread by some Conservative-leaning channels. I think it's important for us to remember that.
The other thing that's important to note is that the Harper government also used similar tactics to retain employees. By the way, I think that's an important thing. I think it's important for us to pay people what they are worth so that they can do good work on behalf of Canadians. I think Canadians would respect that good work is paid fairly.
With that, Madam Chair, I'd like to now move a motion reflecting the conversation that we've had today. The motion is as follows:
Given that more than 11 million Canadians tuned in to CBC/Radio-Canada’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games;
Given that the national public broadcaster offered the most coverage in Canada of a Paralympic Games to date;
Given that CBC offers a coverage of sports events that are important to Canadians and our Canadian identity, such as the Arctic Winter Games, the North American Indigenous Games and the Commonwealth Games;
And given that under previous Conservative governments, no 2012 Summer Paralympics sport events were shown live on television in Canada despite record international media coverage in other countries;
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of no less than four meetings of CBC/Radio-Canada's coverage of amateur sport, with particular attention to how the public broadcaster provides a Canadian perspective on Canadian stories, highlights sporting events that would otherwise receive less coverage, unites our country and helps advance the goals of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
I will circulate that, Madam Chair, in both English and French, if that has not already been done.
I think this is an important motion, given the questions we heard that reflect the importance of making sure that Canadians can see sporting events and others that may not be “popular” on some of the other channels but that clearly, in the eyes of Canadians, are not only incredibly popular but incredibly powerful and that convey an incredible sense of paralympic athletes' accomplishments across this country from coast to coast to coast.
This is something that I think we should be extremely proud of, and I think we need to really examine the consequences and the implications of this very important coverage.
Thank you, Madam Chair.