Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - October 15, 2024 - The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has been criticized for its focus on a "defund" narrative, particularly in the television sector.

The CEO and president of CBC, Catherine Tait, has asked two people to volunteer for a committee to develop a government plan for CBC/Radio-Canada.

Tait believes the industry must rally to secure Canadian-owned production for the future.

Tait's tenure at the public broadcaster is set to end in January 2025, and the government hopes to announce her replacement this fall.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has also said fall is when she hopes to release the government's long-awaited plan to modernize the public broadcaster, which would include changes to its mandate.

Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to "defund" the public broadcaster, which received $1.4 billion in the last federal budget. Poilievre and his MPs have also pledged to sell off CBC's headquarters in Toronto and its French-language programming arm, Radio-Canada.

Tait recently told CBC News she is not worried about what the next federal election might bring for the broadcaster but cautioned against those calling for it to be scrapped.

St-Onge has said she wants to see the broadcaster's mandate updated before Canadians head to the polls.