The media is the fourth pillar of our democracy, so a well-funded public broadcaster is an important building block of that pillar. Those who conduct research in this area aren't surprised to see that CBC/Radio-Canada, compared to its peers, ranks below the OECD and G7 average. That funding is precisely what is needed to create an environment where people can get reliable news. A state-supported, and therefore independent, broadcaster, rather than a state broadcaster, is immensely important in terms of credibility. Given the situation we are facing, it's clear that the general mood is one of skepticism. Not funding this broadcaster or suggesting that we cut its funding would, I believe, undermine public confidence in this immensely important broadcaster, not only in terms of the reliability of news, but also in terms of democracy.
