2 minutes to protect that which connects us
From Ian Morrison, Friends of the CBC Can one person make a difference to ensure a bright future for public broadcasting in Canada? YES, especially right now, as we approach the election – a ‘teachable moment’ for all our political candidates and leaders. I am writing to invite you to take action in support of the CBC. Please take two minutes right now and send a message to the candidates in your riding. Tell them that the CBC connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast and you want a government that protects and enhances it, not one that tears it down. But we must act quickly. With only 9 days remaining to May 2nd, this is the exact time when the candidates are craving your support. For the CBC, the stakes in this election are enormous – and I am talking about the real CBC – the thousands of dedicated and creative people who make the programs Canadians love to listen to and watch – not the ‘suits’ at the top, whom Harper has appointed. Even though successive governments have cut CBC’s budget, never has a sitting government harboured such intense hostility toward our public broadcaster as today. Just this week, one of Harper’s hand-picked Senators, Pamela Wallin, accused the CBC of giving Michael Ignatieff a disproportionate amount of coverage because “the CBC (is) concerned about what will happen with its funding.” You can listen to a 1:45 min clip here, as well as the full version, if you have time. Senator Wallin’s allegation is almost as bizarre – and sinister – as the mis-information campaign about the Conservative record on funding the CBC that Harper has directed his MPs to conduct. FRIENDS has correspondence from 72 sitting Conservative MPs claiming that the Harper government “has increased support to CBC in every one of our budgets. This year the CBC is receiving $1.1 billion dollars in funding – this being the highest amount of funding ever allotted to the CBC - more than any government in Canadian history.” This statement is false. In each of the past three years, CBC funding has declined under the current government. These election developments are potent reminders of just how urgent the situation is for public broadcasting in Canada. FRIENDS has adopted a ‘deterrence’ election strategy that is designed to protect public broadcasting in all scenarios – including a Conservative majority government. Our strategy is simple: put voters of all political stripes’ strong support for public broadcasting on prominent display during the campaign, especially in the 45 ridings where it’s too close to call who will prevail on May 2nd. FRIENDS volunteers are working furiously in these close ridings to promote our “WE’RE VOTING CBC!” campaign. They are speaking out at public events, putting up posters, distributing campaign buttons, and asking pointed questions at all candidates meetings, among other initiatives. Now, it’s your turn. Please send a message to your candidates today. Our online action centre will automatically identify the candidates running in your riding and will present you with draft messages – one for the Conservative candidate and one for the others - which you can change. Personalizing your message particularly at the front end, will give it a lot more impact. And it only takes a couple of minutes! Now is the time to make our support for public broadcasting so visible and audible that politicians of all stripes cannot ignore it. If we act quickly and forcefully I know we will make an impact. Yours sincerely, Ian Morrison Spokesperson
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting
