OTTAWA — The federal Department of Finance has flagged several prominent Crown corporations as "not self-sustaining," including the CBC, VIA Rail and the National Arts Centre, and has identified them as entities that could be sold as part of the government's asset review, newly released documents show......

CBC, VIA Rail considered for auction block: Documents (http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fp/Rail+considered+auction+block+Documents/1652330/story.html)

Bout time... :clap:

sure. Give it a go. That would make that little squabble over arts cuts and the fallout in Quebec look like a minor scrape.

Would seal their fate at the polls, and they just might be stupid enough to try it. God knows their supporters sure are brainless enough to not be able to see that far...
;)

Here, here! Now that's what I want to see! They'll do the country a major favour, even if it costs them an election.

Well if you think Canadians will accept the selling off of the CBC because of the conservative bungling of the finances and a ballooning deficit, giddyup!!!!!

(puts on the popcorn...)

sure. Give it a go. That would make that little squabble over arts cuts and the fallout in Quebec look like a minor scrape.

Would seal their fate at the polls, and they just might be stupid enough to try it. God knows their supporters sure are brainless enough to not be able to see that far...
;)

And the odds that the whiners would ever vote Conservative to begin with?

If anything, it would galvanize their base of supporters and save the nation a couple billion per year.

The sad reality is that we would probably have to pay to get rid of it.

This has always been on page one of Harper's playbook for his 'New Canada'.

The fallout from this will be ugly indeed. I can see he and his cronies scrambling to get this and many other nasty deeds done before we put them all in front of the firing squad. Metaphorically speaking of course...;)

regardless. I think it's a GRAND idea. Would likely be the biggest mistake of Harper's career.

btw, "real" conservatives, as seemingly defined as such around here, is very much in the minority in this country. So who cares what they want. All I hear from them is nothing but complaining and how we all have to abide by their wishes. What a bunch of grandiose dreamers. Toss 'em into irrelevance... let them galvanize together where they don't bother anyone anymore.:baby:

btw, "real" conservatives, as seemingly defined as such around here, is very much in the minority in this country.

Actually we won the last two elections. Shouldn't be a problem taking the third when Iggy feels like heading back to academia.

Here, here! Now that's what I want to see! They'll do the country a major favour, even if it costs them an election.

Yeah wholeheartedly agree, but who in their right mind would buy it?

Yeah wholeheartedly agree, but who in their right mind would buy it?

They should give the CBC to its employees, in exchange for their pensions!

Yeah wholeheartedly agree, but who in their right mind would buy it?

Give it to the NDP. Let's see them try to run a business and turn a profit. It's far cheaper than giving them a minority position in government.

Safe, but just as telling.

I like it!

Actually we won the last two elections. Shouldn't be a problem taking the third when Iggy feels like heading back to academia.

I think "won" is a pretty strong term for a pretty weak mandate. More than half the voters would have preferred another party than the Conservatives to form the government, it would seem. But go on relishing the "victory" if it makes you happy.

I think "won" is a pretty strong term for a pretty weak mandate. More than half the voters would have preferred another party than the Conservatives to form the government, it would seem. But go on relishing the "victory" if it makes you happy.

It does make me happy. More people voted Conservative than for any other party.

I'd happily accept the consequences of probably being bounced from power if it meant we got rid of the CBC in the process. That most certainly would be worth it.

Actually we won the last two elections. Shouldn't be a problem taking the third when Iggy feels like heading back to academia.

I think "won" is a pretty strong term for a pretty weak mandate. More than half the voters would have preferred another party than the Conservatives to form the government, it would seem. But go on relishing the "victory" if it makes you happy.

Further to Fjnmusic’s view of the Conservative win.

Won? Yeah! A bunch of winners all right!

Two election when the other likely successful party was in self destructive free fall and the best that Harper, Flaherty and Co. can accomplish is the miserable minority parliaments that was nearly taken away until the new third “Conservative leader” Iggy showed up. Now you want Iggy to leave? :lmao:

Further to Fjnmusic’s view of the Conservative win.

Won? Yeah! A bunch of winners all right!

Two election when the other likely successful party was in self destructive free fall and the best that Harper, Flaherty and Co. can accomplish is the miserable minority parliaments that was nearly taken away until the new third “Conservative leader” Iggy showed up. Now you want Iggy to leave? :lmao:

Oh now you're just being negative! We need to be positive so as not to hurt any feelings now.

Stephen did a good job. He deserves a medal. Sure he didn't get a majority despite one of the worst liberal results in Canadian history. But that couldn't possibly mean this country isn't conservative now could it.

The recession really is the best thing that has happened to the Conservatives (and Conservatism). Using bailouts as a tool to break the back of organized labour, go into a huge deficit and use it as an excuse to privatize everything as well as cut spending to necessary social programs.

All for what? Perceived tax savings? Do you really thing your taxes will go down? Dream on little dreamer. You will just lose services.

Also, silencing the voice of our national broadcaster? A Liberal mouthpiece they cry! Elitist they proclaim! More like a voice that unifies this vast and disparate Country of ours. I certainly could find better ways to reduce spending than that. When news has simply become endless streams of press releases having a dissenting voice (be it partisan or not) is a welcome thing.

Privatizing the CBC would be political suicide. It would be right next to eliminating universal healthcare. As long as there are fat greedy men in suits this will happen, but it will be a death by a thousand cuts.

And the all "Dougies" will all line up to take it on the chin...

Hey Dougie! You're a hard werkin man! You dun wanna pay the lazy louts way anymore? NO! You dun wanna let the liberals let the bad guys get off anymore? NO!


hook, line, and sinker...

It does make me happy. More people voted Conservative than for any other party.
Only because the Bloc only runs candidates in Quebec...

You will just lose services.

That would rule - which ever party pledges to reduce services, like scrapping Welfraud, gets my vote.

Also, silencing the voice of our national broadcaster?

Yeah, when they close down Global and CTV, we will be dependent upon US television...

Privatizing the CBC would be political suicide.

I think it would be a pretty popular move, since few people bother with the CBC any more. If a private broadcaster attempted to do what the CBC has done over the years, they would be bankrupt in a few months. The only people who would have any opposition would be the Hockey crowd - but that could easily be a profit maker for any of the other broadcasters.

It would be right next to eliminating universal healthcare.

We don't have "universal healthcare" - not when they indiscriminately close some hospitals in order to build some giant empire somewhere else. I don't think you can include the word "health" into what we have, which is a series of disgustingly filthy hospitals that are breeding grounds for disease and contaigion, and repositories for fat cat executives that reap huge heaps of cash in salaries and bonuses for laying off or firing their staff. If axing our current system so that we could get real health care in this country was on the table, I'd vote for that.

As long as there are fat greedy men in suits this will happen, but it will be a death by a thousand cuts.

I think a few more projects like the Electronic Health Records Fraud Project would be more than enough to shove this nation off of the economic cliff. There's so much graft and corruption in that project that the Mafia refuses to get involved because it is too gratuitous...

I like it. A lot! 'Bout time too. :clap:

I like it. A lot! 'Bout time too. :clap:

It will never happen. In fact, even the suggestion it may happen will further their undoing. This kind of announcement gives credibility to the idea that Harper has an an agenda to disassemble this 'third rate socialist country' of ours and rebuild it in his image. I guarantee this is going to galvanize all the fence sitters to send our boy packing.

Sit back and watch it backfire.

It will never happen. In fact, even the suggestion it may happen will further their undoing. This kind of announcement gives credibility to the idea that Harper has an an agenda to disassemble this 'third rate socialist country' of ours and rebuild it in his image. I guarantee this is going to galvanize all the fence sitters to send our boy packing.

Sit back and watch it backfire. :clap: But mrjimmy these ideas of disassembly are sooo self evident they must be the correct course of action. It could possibly go horribly wrong. Say it isn't so. SAY IT! ;)

This kind of announcement gives credibility to the idea that Harper has an an agenda to disassemble this 'third rate socialist country' of ours and rebuild it in his image.

I never knew that we attained the lofty status of third rate - by the look of things, it is more like a penny ante sixth or seventh rate socialist country...

I never knew that we attained the lofty status of third rate - by the look of things, it is more like a penny ante sixth or seventh rate socialist country...

A quote from our glorious and brainy leader Steve who knows who we are what's good for us!

If the Conservatves show this sort of spine, I'll actually go out and canvas for them.

If the Conservatves show this sort of spine, I'll actually go out and canvas for them.

Giddyup!

OTTAWA — The federal Department of Finance has flagged several prominent Crown corporations as "not self-sustaining," including the CBC, VIA Rail and the National Arts Centre, and has identified them as entities that could be sold as part of the government's asset review, newly released documents show......

CBC, VIA Rail considered for auction block: Documents (http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fp/Rail+considered+auction+block+Documents/1652330/story.html)

Bout time... :clap:

Yup, sure let an unbiased authoritative network like FOX buy up CBC and we'll all be watching dumbed-down American shlock TV.

I have never understood the fact that every time the Cons are elected they seem to wait a bit then start to sell off Canadian icons.

This time it's to pay off the growing deficit of $50 billion... oh, no wait, they've lied again.... it's probably closer to $172 BILLION!!! :eek:

Tories digging a $172-billion hole: TD - The Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-digging-a-172-billion-hole-td/article1165547/)

Tories digging a $172-billion hole: TD

Canada is headed for a series of shocking federal deficits that will put the government more than $172-billion in the hole over the next five years, the TD Bank says in a new analysis.
The report, released Tuesday, doubles the $85-billion total in deficits projected in the Conservative government's January budget, and makes clear that it will take Ottawa at least six years to return to balance, not the four that had been anticipated.

Sooner Harper & Co. go the better.... problem is there's still NO ONE ELSE to vote for... XX)

Sooner Harper & Co. go the better.... problem is there's still NO ONE ELSE to vote for... XX)

Well, yes that is a problem. Seeing that Iggy wants the government to spend even more and Layton wants to spend more than that,

If the Conservatves show this sort of spine, I'll actually go out and canvas for them.
Would they all have to wear the leather, hey I visited the Calgary Stampede, vest?

I respect the view of those who don't like the CBC (though personally I don't agree) or the idea of a national broadcaster.

But don't kid yourselves -- if CBC were gone, CTV/Global would get bought out in no time at all, and there would be almost zero "Canadian content" shows at all. Guaranteed. CTV would most likely be bought by FOX/Murdoch and rebranded "Fox Canada."

As the old saying goes, "be careful what you wish for." It's worth bearing in mind that as "bad" as some here think the CBC is, it (and by "it" I mean the entire concept of Canadian-aimed television) could be much worse. I know, cuz I've seen it. :)

^^^
Since the CRTC can block the sale of television networks in Canada and mandates Canadian content by law, this prediction makes no sense.

^^^
I think the problem with the CBC isn't that it is a publicly funded national broadcaster - but rather, the upper levels of the CBC are entire inhabited by filthy political appointees, glad handlers and other people who know little or nothing about broadcasting. The CBC just serves as yet another trough, entirely bloated with managers and the managers that manage mangers - while endlessly laying off or firing the handful of people that actually do some work.

I don't think the majority of people want to scrap the idea of a national broadcaster that has a mandate to broadcast to underserved or remote places. I think they just want to scrap it to get rid of the whole class of people within it that score large money for little work that includes the whole free luncheon and free gratuities that are endemic to anything Government these days. I think having a news broadcast that is nothing more than a shill for the Liberal Party does their cause great harm, because people would prefer neutrality, and grow tired of their lionizing whatever filth happens to lead the Liberals while showing their distain for anything that happens not the be Liberal.

If the CBC stopped being a font of backstabbing politics, and got on with the work of being a real broadcaster with real news coverage that is fair - people would not be so against it. The current CBC is too far out of touch of anything going on in this universe...

^^^
I don't think the majority of people want to scrap the idea of a national broadcaster that has a mandate to broadcast to underserved or remote places.

With satellite, nobody in Canada is underserved--and with the CBC focusing all its energies on national, not local, programming there is no reason for it to claim it serves these communities better than a satellite broadcast.

^^^
Since the CRTC can block the sale of television networks in Canada and mandates Canadian content by law, this prediction makes no sense.Yeah! And it’s like industry interests has never nor will never supplant public interest with regulators.

Can you say Listeria, meat packing industry and Health Canada? Or is that just yesterday’s news?

With satellite, nobody in Canada is underserved--and with the CBC focusing all its energies on national, not local, programming there is no reason for it to claim it serves these communities better than a satellite broadcast.Who is broadcasting from the North back to the North?

^^^
With the exception of those places that prohibit satellite dishes. There are also problems with the cost of satellite subscriptions and such, while terrestrial broadcasts remain entirely free and affordable. Besides, the CBC is more than just TV - they also provide programming for broadcast radio in various shortwave and medium wave bands, with regional and international services. These are services that pretty much every nation offers, and outside of North America, shortwave is a very important medium for broadcast.

Even in the United States, where it is all about hard capitalism, and that features four large networks, each of which have budgets larger than most countries have - they have a need for public broadcasting, with PBS and NPR, which are at least partially supported by taxpayers money. This was done because the networks simply do not engage in educational broadcasts. Private networks need to maintain ratings in order to support themselves, and thus, will only broadcast whatever can grab market share. Public broadcasters, on the other hand, have a separate mandate.

The problem with the CBC isn't that it is a public broadcaster, or that they have TV or radio stations, or that they have a certain mandate to fill the gaps that will simply not be served by private broadcasters - it is that the upper reaches of management are political goons that are there to waste as much money as they can in carving out endless little empires, and that this poisoned environment afflicts and perverts their broadcasting.

Not only that, most of the money that is pumped into the CBC is wasted on this group, people that make hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, with all kinds of giant benefits and expense accounts, but do not make one iota of a contribution in return. There is also a degree of inefficiency, where the CBC will send out a sixty man crew to cover some press conference, with a giant bus and a giant broadcast studio tractor trailer, while private broadcasters will send out perhaps three people in a minivan. Much of this mentality is caused by the attitudes of management, where they treat employees like garbage - so in revenge, the employees unionize and do whatever it takes to screw over management.

But then again, private broadcasters are not necessarily good torch bearers either - just look as the massive decline of CITY-TV once it was Corporatized, and the failure of A Channel to "be the cool broadcaster in town".

What is needed is to chop off the top half the the CBC, and get back to the fundamentals. Fulfill the mandate without huge wastes of cash. Have executives that are responsible to fulfill the mandate, to be efficient with money, and to treat workers with respect. And most of all, they have to cut out the political shenanigans. Start reporting the real news, give everyone a fair voice and chance, and stop being the shill of the Liberals. Maybe the idiots that run the CBC should tune in and check out someone like Steve Paikin, over at TVO, because his show is always more intelligent and informative than the crud the CBC puts on.

I'd support scrapping the CBC if it meant they would get rid of the glad handling "panelists" they put on like every broadcast, like that shemale dude from Montreal that makes the Britain's Got Talent chick look hot...

Yeah! And it’s like industry interests has never nor will never supplant public interest with regulators.

Can you say Listeria, meat packing industry and Health Canada? Or is that just yesterday’s news?

It's not as if you could accidentally sell the network to an American and then say it was an oversight--like the Listeria problem.

Who is broadcasting from the North back to the North?

Not CBC television in any meaningful capacity.

^^^
Besides, the CBC is more than just TV - they also provide programming for broadcast radio in various shortwave and medium wave bands, with regional and international services. These are services that pretty much every nation offers, and outside of North America, shortwave is a very important medium for broadcast.

....What is needed is to chop off the top half the the CBC, and get back to the fundamentals.

As government entities they can't change their stripes--it's inherent in the public business model. When I suggest selling the CBC, however, I am referring to TV.

As government entities they can't change their stripes--it's inherent in the public business model. When I suggest selling the CBC, however, I am referring to TV.

If I had to compromise on the issue of the CBC I'd say keep Newsworld in some capacity and radio. The main Television network has been hobbling for some time.

In saying that, I would want shows like The Fifth Estate produced for Newsworld. They are what the CBC does best.

mrjimmy: I'd tend to agree with you on this. If the CBC could stick to a certain mandate, I wouldn't be so hard on it. Trying to be all things to all people, attempting to compete in commercial markets that are well-served, bidding for American programming AND collecting money from taxpayers while selling commercial time is not a great model. Time to decide what the CBC's role is--and its not the same role as it had in 1953.

Good point, Macfury. They should stick to news, public affairs, sports, local issues in all provinces and territories, funding for arts and cultural programs that reflect Canada, and give up all US TV programs. I would certainly be willing to see my tax dollars go for that, rather than wonder if I shall watch a US sitcome on CBC or a US station.

^^^
That is a pretty big issue - where the CBC uses public money to regurgitate stuff that is readily available on US channels.

I think they could easily have their mandate adjusted, since people do seem to have no axe to grind with RCI or CBC Radio - especially when they cater to segments that wouldn't be covered by private broadcasters. CBC Radio is really much less biased and less "Liberal" than their counterpart on TV, and it is highly respected. Same with things like broadcasting Classical music, or educational shows, or current affairs, or the arts, or Jazz, or whatever.

The big problem is with TV, with too many US offerings that cost huge money, or The National, which is nothing more than an instrument of a select small slice of the Liberal Party (the CBC curiously has a pretty big hate-on for Ignatieff, mostly because their man Dion was trounced - so much so they are putting a more positive spin on King Harpo - whom they never liked. But as the Arabs say, an enemy of an enemy is a friend).

Beyond the actual broadcasts, the CBC is plagued with an overweight administration that pays themselves huge money, and I mean huge - while treating their own workers with distain and derision. There is no efficiency, it's all about blowing out the budget then pan handling for more cash.

Nothin was more disgusting that the CBC making a case last winter about their "budget shortfall" and how the Government was "evil" because they wouldn't hand over millions of dollars for no reason. Harper called them out - saying that sure, come forth with a case, show us what the shortfall is, and then the Government will fix the problem. So instead of putting a case together, then meeting with the minister and hashing things out - the board of the CBC decided that they were too busy, and that meeting with a minister was just not important enough to take a day away from the steakhouse. Steak, it seems, was far more important than fixing the situation.

So in retribution, the Board has saw fit to saw off hundreds of jobs. Which goes to show you that the CBC really needed to get on a diet, because they simply had way too many people. If you can axe 400 people, and not change anything one iota - it is juts pure bloat, something which would not happen for too long in the private sector.

The CBC needs to be changed - mandate aside, and all of the turkeys in management who have endlessly practiced malfeasance and engages in their little petty games just need the axe...