Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to speak briefly on the motion, which has several elements or layers. Indeed, this motion is like an onion. It also reveals some of the Conservative Party's ideals on the funding of the Société Radio‑Canada and the CBC.
First of all, I think it's relevant for people who follow our work to offer the Bloc Québécois' condolences to the families of the innocent victims of the conflict. The need to condemn what Hamas is doing is obvious. But the conflict didn't start on October 7; it's been going on for decades. There are innocent victims on both sides. We'll have to be careful over the coming weeks and months. Obviously, we want to see peace restored in the Middle East.
The motion condemns the idea that the CBC gave a journalistic directive to its employees on the use of the word “terrorist.”
First, I don't think the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is the appropriate committee to assess whether Parliament should comment on a press guideline. I think the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which incidentally is the committee that oversees CBC/Radio‑Canada, is more appropriate if Parliament feels there has been serious abuse.
Secondly, I'd like to remind all committee members of the important nuance between a public channel and a state channel. A public channel is funded by the government. However, it is not a state channel, since the government and Parliament have no say in what this channel does. It's very important to remember this nuance. Whatever the colour of the government, red or blue, public television is not a state channel and must remain neutral. Parliament therefore doesn't necessarily have a say in what is or isn't said on it.
Thirdly, the motion refers to the funding of the Société Radio‑Canada and the CBC. That's why it was tabled with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the Bloc Québécois is in no way in favour of budget cuts to a public broadcaster. On the contrary, we believe in the importance of an independent public channel to do the journalistic work it is asked to do.
If Parliament deems it appropriate to examine the media guideline regarding the use of the word “terrorist”, I also invite it to consider the fact that the CBC is not the only channel to have done so. Agence France‑Presse, Reuters, the BBC have all done the same, and there's surely a reason for that.