Minister St-Onge outlines vision for CBC/Radio-Canada reforms

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge unveiled her vision for CBC/Radio-Canada, emphasizing the need for independence, predictable funding, and a focus on news to adapt to the changing media landscape. Key proposals include eliminating subscription fees for streaming services, increasing citizen participation, and strengthening independence from the government. The vision also includes collaborating with Indigenous communities to develop an appropriate strategy and emphasizes the need to separate French and English programming. A recent survey shows that 65% of Canadians want the federal government to allocate a portion of its advertising budget to Canadian news media, reflecting a growing concern for the support of local journalism. Critics argue that the government's advertising decisions favor foreign platforms over local publishers, undermining trust in media. St-Onge's proposals aim to reinforce CBC/Radio-Canada's role as a cultural cornerstone amid these challenges.