Thank you, Chair.
Community radio stations are a critical part of Canada's broadcasting network. They are particularly vital to rural Canadians. They are the front lines in the fight against disinformation.
The sector includes more than 235 stations licensed as community, indigenous or campus in almost every province and territory. More than 120 of those operate in communities of less than 50,000 people. They broadcast content in more than 65 different languages. They are among the last local and live media outlets in communities across Canada.
These are all not-for-profit stations with boards and staff who live in the communities they serve. These stations are reliable. They offer accurate information, because their own families depend on it, and their neighbours do too. For example, during hurricane Fiona, staff at CFIM on the Magdalen Islands, at CKOA in Cape Breton—their station was actually pushed off its foundations by the wind—and CKMA in Miramichi barricaded themselves inside their stations with stacks of pizza and bottled water. They gave the latest updates on power outages, road closures and places where volunteers were urgently needed. They directed those who were injured to clinics with the least volume of patients. They made sure that everyone had the latest weather forecast.
All of this was available by livestream and social media, but without power it didn't matter. Word mostly got out on FM and AM transmitters to receivers powered by batteries. It was only reliable information, unlike the disaster voyeurism as reported by the major networks. Yes, everyone covered the storm. Some provided a service to their listeners. Others just got clicks.
Community media, however, is under threat. Canada has experienced a net loss of more than 275 local news outlets in less than 15 years. The impact of this collective dumbing-down is clear and evident. There's a reason that approximately 12 social media users were responsible for almost 90% of the pandemic disinformation. In the void of local news, Canadians are increasingly turning to social media for their information. We're seeing the impacts.
Margaret Sullivan, the author of Ghosting the News, said the following:
Studies show that people who live in areas with poor local news coverage are less likely to vote, and when they do, they [go along] strictly...party lines. To put it bluntly, the demise of local news poses the kind of danger to our democracy that should have alarm sirens screeching across the land.
The CBC relies on hundreds of millions of dollars in operational support but currently moves further and further from local broadcasting every day. Private broadcasters, who benefit from significant tax breaks, put shareholders before the audience. But community broadcasters, who receive no stable government support, keep doing what they do best—supporting our communities.
Many stations operate on an annual budget of less than $40,000 a year. Any support will make a huge difference for them. We propose two concrete measures that will make that difference.
First, continue the local journalism initiative. It's a program run by Heritage that has been a resounding success. We're one of seven groups who administer the program. This year alone, just our group funded journalists at stations in 41 underserved communities, or communities considered news deserts. Unfortunately, that program expires in 2024. Heritage Canada has already proposed renewing the program permanently at $15.4 million a year or greater. We wholeheartedly support that proposal. The funding has already made a difference, but the impact will only truly be realized over time.
The second measure is a systemic change for our entire sector. Relative to my colleagues, it's a small number. We're proposing an annual allocation to all 235 community, indigenous and campus broadcasters of a total of $25 million a year administered through the CRFC. We can and will ensure that those funds do not directly or indirectly support further disinformation.
The investment translates into an average of $90,000 per station, providing them with core funding for basic operations, rent on a station or broadcast tower, or paying staff a living wage. These minimal and fiscally responsible investments will provide stability and allow these stations to continue to invest in the Canadian voice.
I want to close by reminding you that, due to their licence, they are all not-for-profit. Every single dollar invested in community radio is reinvested in the communities they serve. Not a dollar is wasted. Not a dollar goes to shareholders. Not a dollar goes to six-figure executive salaries or to million-dollar bonuses paid to C-suite executives for their performance during the pandemic. Every dollar is invested in ensuring that there is a reliable source of local information for generations to come. If we want to support those fighting disinformation, we must fight and support those on the front lines.
Thank you very much. I will be happy to answer your questions in either English or French.