November 24, 2024 Senator Andrew Cardozo Senate of Canada Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications By Email Dear Senator , Re: Study on CBC/Radio-Canada local programming Thank you for this opportunity to submit some thoughts about the role of CBC in the Capital Regional District of Victoria, BC. Due to the shortness of time to submit this contribution, I will keep my comments brief. CBC TV As there is no CBC TV outlet in Victoria, or on the Island, I will defer to comments I read recently by former CBC President Richard Stursberg. In his open letter to Mme.

Bouchard, he correctly analyzes the current state of affairs, and makes some bold suggestions about the future. It is clear to everyone, I would think, that the status quo is untenable, and that unorthodox thinking will be required to keep the proverbial ship afloat. CBC Radio – Victoria In September of 1998, CBC Radio was dragged kicking and screaming into the Victoria market, led by a former CBC Board member, Jane Hefflefinger. It took years of lobbying, begging and cajoling, before the CBC Ottawa brass deemed it time to actually broadcast coast to coast.

Victoria was the last provincial capital in Canada to get this service. CBC entered a crowded media market, with a robust local daily newspaper (the Times Colonist), a variety of private radio stations, CTV broadcasting from downtown studio, and several other media outlets. As has been true of other CBC Radio stations, Victoria quickly established itself with local news and broad coverage of the community.

Victoria has long boasted an artistic scene that consistently punches above its weight (including a renowned opera company), and CBC Radio played an instant role in helping to promote the varied offerings, from classical music to theatre, dance and rock and roll (and everything in-between). Fast forward a quarter century and the landscape has changed dramatically. The Times Colonist now has full time reporters, down from more than 20, with one person providing the arts and entertainment coverage that used to take full time and part time reporters. Monday Magazine, a community based weekly publication, is gone.

CTV has abandoned the market all together, leaving a skeleton crew at the independent employee owned CHEK TV to hold down the fort (and struggle financially). There are two organizations with a web-based presence (Victoria Buzz and Capital Daily), who provide extremely limited coverage. Global has a local reporter (Richard Zussman) doing a stellar job of covering the provincial legislature, but local news is sporadic at best. Private radio has scaled back their presence. In this environment, CBC Radio becomes even more meaningful.

It has the ability to provide a wide ranging and significant presence, both through its morning and afternoon drive time shows, and local news coverage. In some cases, it is covering issues and incidents being ignored by other media outlets. In other cases, it is providing a nuanced view of what is already known. How the public broadcaster can do better in the changing world of media? First and foremost, CBC needs to be here. Smaller markets such as Victoria do not have a strong voice when it comes to understanding and interpreting local issues, unless it coincides with a larger context.

There is no longer a large professional workforce ready and able to undertake the background and research to fully explain and expose the hidden agendas, coverups and mistakes. Secondly, CBC needs to partner with resources within the community to strengthen its position and improve its effectiveness. I can think of many examples in the past where it was expedient to provide a superficial effort without making a major commitment. Too often, CBC has been quick to deliver what it thinks we want, without any proper consultation, or dialogue with their audience.

Especially in smaller communities, there is a strong desire to be heard over the noise coming at us from the larger centres. CBC Radio has many friends in Victoria – it should learn how to use that to its advantage. Respectfully submitted, Marcus Handman (retired) Victoria BC Former senior employee for: The Victoria Symphony Pacific Opera Victoria The Directors Guild of Canada The International Cinematographers Guild (669)