NDP express deep concern over move to make CBC/Radio Canada branded service

Today, the NDP Critic for Canadian Heritage, Alexandre Boulerice, and the deputy Critic for Canadian Heritage, Heather McPherson, sent a letter to Minister Guilbeault expressing their concern over CBC/Radio Canada’s recent development to create branded content.

“I was shocked to learn of CBC/Radio Canada’s recent move to create a branded advertising and podcasting service, Tandem,” said Boulerice. “This content is designed to blur the line between paid content and journalism and will undermine the broadcaster’s ability to provide unbiased news and reporting.

“It is for this reason we are asking the Minister to intervene with these developments.”

“Rather than forcing our public broadcaster to sell its services to the highest bidder, we should be funding CBC/Radio Canada adequately so that it may serve to protect the highest standards of journalistic integrity and achieve true independence from advertisers. Tandem is a very big step in the wrong direction,” said McPherson.

We are urging the Minister to do something to protect CBC/Radio Canada, a cherished institution among Canadians. The Liberal government claim they want to foster Canadian media. Now is the time to invest in Canadian media and content, rather than forcing broadcasters to find other ways to stay afloat.