Pay attention now, and follow the links among Prime Ministers past and present, private corporate interests and the CBC cuts. And yes, there will be a quiz.

  "Even if we (the CBC) were given more money, I would still implement these changes." This was Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) President Robert Rabinovitch's statement to the Heritage Committee on May 16, 2000 when he and his executive tried to sell Canadians on the elimination of Local Television News. This latest round of cuts means the ability of Provincial and local CBC stations to produce programming, do investigative reporting, reflect their province, and live up to their mandate is gone.

  This is only another arrow in the heart of Canadian Public broadcasting in a privatization strategy, which began as far back as 1975. This is when the first indications that something was amuck. Two incidents in that year were significant.

 

Canada is the only country in the industrialized world with no limits on media ownership

  The first was the introduction of a bill in the House of Commons by a Liberal member to limit private media concentration and control. The bill failed and the Liberal member was subsequently removed from caucus and eventually from his seat in the house. Canada is the only country in the industrialized world with no limits on media ownership.

  The second incident was the first of what has become a continuing round of cuts to the CBC.

  How are these incidents related? In 1975 Private Broadcasters began lobbying the federal government over CBC. They claimed that CBC Television was infringing upon their territory by doing sports and local news. At the same time Paul Demarais Jr. was having discussions with Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau about the private member's bill on media concentration.

 

The cuts to the CBC have always been significantly deeper than any other government department or crown corporation. Between 1985 and 1996, federal government departments averaged around a 5 to 15% reductions. CBC was hit with a whopping 50%.

  Mr. Demarais is Chairman and CEO of Power Corporation whose holdings include Great-West Life Assurance Company, London Life, Investors Group, La Presse and three other daily newspapers in Quebec, several large European companies through the Pargesa group, and Power Broadcasting Inc. There are also indications that some of the personal holdings of Mr. Demarais are with companies whose interests are in the management of CBC properties.

  Great West Life is the benefits insurer for CBC. But the influence and relationship between Power Corporation and the CBC does not end there. In 1994-95, the CBC embarked upon a joint venture with Power Broadcasting Inc. for the production and delivery of Newsworld International. The development of this project was overseen by then CBC President Gerard Veillieux. (Mr. Veillieux had previously worked in the Prime Ministers Office and was considered as the highest ranking bureaucrat under Trudeau's government.) Before Mr. Veillieux completed his term in 1995 he sat on the Board of Directors of Power Broadcasting Corporation for a full two weeks. He was subsequently hired by Power Broadcasting.

  Paul Demarais Jr. has long expressed an interest in CBC's transmitters. The CBC is the only broadcaster capable of reaching 95% of the Canadian population. When private broadcasters bid on major events such as the Olympics they include leasing of CBC's transmission abilities to assure audience reach. If a private broadcaster were to own these facilities they would have a monopoly on Canadian broadcasting. The only caveat is satellite distribution.

 

We are watching as Medicare is being dismantled, railway lines and services have been significantly reduced, the airline industry is in complete turmoil since deregulation, and now our media are being swallowed up or dismantled

  In 1995-96, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission ruled on satellite distributors. The ruling was made, and licenses awarded, only to be overturned by Prime Minister Jean Chretien and the federal Liberal government because Power Broadcasting was not included among the companies licensed. This is especially significant in light of the recent survey done by CBC, which asked participants in rural areas if they would be willing to receive CBC television via satellite if the cost of dishes were significantly reduced. CBC also indicated an interest in selling their transmitters.

  Throughout this entire time, from 1975 until the recent proposals by Mr. Rabinovitch, CBC has faced cut after cut even after the federal deficit cutting of the 1980's and 90's have ended. In fact the cuts to the CBC have always been significantly deeper than any other government department or crown corporation. Between 1985 and 1996, federal government departments averaged around a 5 to 15% reductions. CBC was hit with a whopping 50%. Current finding of the CBC does not include inflationary costs for building maintenance.

  Besides Mr. Veillieux, others have been tied to Power Corporation. Louise Tremblay, Senior Vice-President Resources worked for Power Corporation before joining CBC. So did the incumbent president Robert Rabinovitch.
 

What a tangled web...

  But the ties to Mr. Trudeau and Prime Minister Jean Chretien are even more significant. On the board of directors of the CBC sits Roy L. Heenan of Heenan Blaikie, Barristers and Solicitors. This is the same firm that handles all of CBC's corporate human resource legal activities. Interestingly Pierre Elliot Trudeau is on a retainer with Heenan Blaikie. Mr. Blaikie is a former aide to Brian Mulroney, another former Prime Minister of Canada.

  Even closer to the centre of Power is Paul Demarais Jr. His son Andre, who is on the board of Power Corporation, is also married to Jean Chretien's daughter. Jean Chretien has not hidden his total disregard for the CBC. In fact in 1996-97 a major lobbying effort was undertaken to gain the support of the Liberal cabinet for the CBC. Over 100 of the Liberal Members of Parliament showed their support but when they approached the Prime Minister their views were quickly dismissed.

  If a private interest such as Mr. Demarais' Power Corporation is able to gain control of the CBC, another nationally cohesive and identifying institution will be lost. We are watching as Medicare is being dismantled, railway lines and services have been significantly reduced, the airline industry is in complete turmoil since deregulation, and now our media are being swallowed up or dismantled. How much longer will Canadians allow this wholesale viral infection to continue - this Family Compact.

Armand Roy is a former member of both CUPE and CEP CBC negotiating committees.

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