Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak today on private member's Motion No. 432 for more CBC funding from the member for Dartmouth.
The CBC is doing a fine job reflecting Canadian culture at this time despite continued cutbacks. The larger question should be what is the right balance, not just more money.
At present, the CBC receives approximately $800 million to $900 million in its annual appropriation from the federal government. The CBC also takes in approximately between $250 million to $300 million every year in advertising revenue.
The CBC has exclusive access to half the Canadian television fund, formerly the television and cable production fund for production.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage announced recently the CBC's exclusive access to half the Canadian television fund will end in July 1999. However, that funding has amounted to about $100 million per year.
Even when we estimate on the low side, when it is added all up, the CBC currently takes in approximately $1.2 billion or more each and every year.
Where does that $1.2 billion or more come from? The Canadian television fund of $200 million comes from both the federal government and from the television cable service providers. It comes from federal taxpayers and private cable companies.
Advertising revenues of $250 million or more come mainly from private companies, the federal government and federal crown corporations, from advertising, charities and from non-profits.
As an aside, I recently heard something very strange. A well respected Canadian charity, Athletes in Action, which provides chaplaincy support to professional athletes and which is active in youth work, launched a national advertising campaign. One broadcaster refused it, the CBC. Why would the CBC refuse a reputable charity that does laudable work with our athletes and our youth? That is an aside.
More than $250 million comes from advertisers. Finally, the CBC receives more than $800 million each and every year from the federal government. Really the CBC receives more than $800 million each and every year from federal taxpayers.
Canadians across Canada are footing an annual appropriation given to the CBC to the tune of more than $800 million. The member for Dartmouth is asking this House to restore multiyear funding to the CBC, sufficient to meet its stated public service goals.
I think the more appropriate question to ask, first of all, is why can the CBC not meet its stated public service goals on a $1.2 billion budget, and why is $1.2 billion a year not sufficient.
The second question we could raise is are the CBC stated public service goals still valid. What will the CBC's role be in the new millennium? What will be its role on the international stage?
What is the place of public broadcasters in an era of not just broadcasting but with cable, direct to home satellite service, an era of booming new media like the Internet, including web casting and a convergence of all these?
I have one more question I want to preface with some observations. Even before the recent problems between the CBC management and its technical staff, viewership for CBC TV and listenership for CBC radio has gone down and stagnated. Private broadcasters sink or swim on their ability to attract viewers and listeners. If they do not attract viewers and listeners they cannot attract the advertising dollars that keep them afloat. In fact, a key basis on which a private broadcaster gets and keeps its licence granted by the CRTC is its profitability. No advertisers, no money; no profits, no licence to broadcast. If fewer and fewer Canadians watch and listen to the CBC, is the CBC serving Canadians?
Is the CBC worth the more than $800 million it gets in its annual appropriation? Is it worth the $100 million it gets from the Canadian television fund? Is the CBC worth its combined revenues of $1.2 billion or more? More important than money for the CBC, this government needs to be at arm's length from the CBC so that the CBC can operate independently without government interference.
Should the CBC get one more cent from Canadian taxpayers? At this time without further review of the CBC I certainly would say no.