Mr. Speaker, a year after celebrating CBC's 75th anniversary, the Conservative government is getting ready to undermine this iconic institution. The great irony is that the party that is planning to cut CBC's budget is the very party that created the broadcaster in the first place. In the early 1930s, the Conservatives wanted a public broadcaster to protect the Canadian identity and provide a forum for the two founding peoples and first nations to express themselves.
I have the honour of presenting a petition signed by people who support CBC and oppose cuts to funding for our only bilingual national broadcaster, whose funding the Conservatives and the Liberals have cut by more than 50% over the years.
Despite the cuts, CBC has soldiered on, representing Quebeckers and Canadians from coast to coast to coast. People love their public broadcaster.
CBC must receive the funding it needs to carry out its mission and fulfill the mandate it has been given by the laws that govern it. The Conservatives created a treasure, and they have a duty to protect it.