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"Latest cuts, $130 million and the loss of 657 jobs, have ripped into the heart of our national broadcaster, so that it's no longer possible to provide Canadians with the quality service they expect and deserve." — Naomi Robinson, CMG President, CBC Toronto.
Toronto (23 May 2014) — Today, May 23, 2014, the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) is holding a rally to support workers at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) under the theme "Raising our voices to make CBC strong again."
Front-line reporters, videographers, and editors from across Canada will be on hand to speak about the real effects of the latest cuts. Also speaking will be Carmel Smyth, CMG National President, Marc-Philippe Laurin, CMG's CBC Branch President and Martin O'Hanlon, Communications Workers of America, Canada President.
The rally is taking place in Simcoe Park which is next door to CBC headquarters at 250 Front Street in Toronto.
Latest cuts will even further hurt the service
"For years now, CBC has faced funding cut after funding cut, and its employees have struggled to provide quality programs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast," said Naomi Robinson, CMG President at CBC Toronto.
"But these latest cuts, $130 million and the loss of 657 jobs, have ripped into the heart of our national broadcaster, so that it's no longer possible to provide Canadians with the quality service they expect and deserve."
Are cuts an effort by Harper government to silence critics?
James Clancy, National President of the 340,000 member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is concerned that the cuts are a reflection of the Conservative government's desire to silence its critics.
"We have seen this government repeatedly use cuts and attacks on funding as a way to quash criticism of its policies," explained Clancy. "Is it really surprising that this government is making such drastic cuts following some hard-hitting journalism by the CBC? This looks more and more like political interference with our national public broadcaster."
Call for federal government to end cutbacks and provide ongoing, stable and secure funding
CMG, which represents 4,000 workers at CBC/Radio-Canada, calls on CBC management and the board of directors to tell Canadians the real impact of the government's ongoing cuts to CBC's funding. CMG also calls on the federal government to reverse its Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP) cuts to CBC. Instead of cuts, the public broadcaster needs ongoing, stable funding so it can deliver the radio, television and online services Canadians deserve.
"We invite everyone to join us as we fight for the CBC we love and Canadians cherish," said Kam Rao, CMG Director at CBC Toronto. "CBC was created to serve all Canadians. They are the real stakeholders and they deserve to know what's going on. The truth is CBC cannot withstand these cuts; and yet, as citizens, we need a strong national public broadcaster."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE