Hon. Marty Klyne: Senator Gold, the Minister of Canadian Heritage’s upcoming plan to modernize the CBC’s mandate will be crucial for sustaining objective, credible journalism in Canada.

Senator Housakos: Hard to believe it.

Senator Klyne: No, not to be believed. And certainly it is crucial that it reflects programming recognizing Canada’s diversity, which is very important.

CBC President and Chief Executive Officer Catherine Tait, soon to be replaced by Marie-Philippe Bouchard, recently commented on the increasing “defund” movement, especially concerning CBC television. I am wondering about changes the government is considering to ensure CBC’s resilience and relevance amid these shifting public and political pressures. How does the government plan to address the concerns of both the supporters who see the CBC as a vital cultural institution and the critics who argue it could be replaced by private media offerings in this new mandate?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question, senator.

I think it’s important to note, colleagues, that despite what some may say elsewhere and here in this chamber, three quarters of Canadians, in fact, want the CBC, but they want the CBC to be different. CBC/Radio-Canada has shaped our culture and has played an important role in our democracy.

I have been informed that the government will be announcing the review of the CBC mandate soon, which will include important steps that will help modernize CBC/Radio-Canada. It is the government’s view that it is crucial that Canadians from coast to coast to coast can rely on a trustworthy source of information and entertainment that belongs here in Canada, that’s responsible to Canadians and that serves Canadians.

Senator Klyne: I’m pleased to hear that there will be a review and a plan coming up for the CBC.

My question is this: With Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre pledging to defund the CBC and sell its headquarters, how does the government plan to prevent the potential dismantling of this valued and acclaimed Canadian institution that, in my view, plays a big role in the sustainability of Canada’s multiculturalism and, importantly, to allow it to continue to broadcast to remote municipalities in Northern Canada that other broadcasters —

The Hon. the Speaker: Senator Gold.

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question and for underlining the important role that the CBC plays outside of metropolitan centres such as Ottawa, Montreal and the like.

I hesitate to comment beyond that, except to say that it seems clear that the Conservative Party of Canada thinks it would be better off if it did not have a made-in-Canada public broadcaster that is responsible to Canadians.