I hope that Canadian national broadcaster CBC may be able restore
some services ravaged in the years of hardship imposed by the Stephen Harper
government. New Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to reverse $115 million
worth of cuts to the CBC and to add on a further $35 million. The Trudeau Liberal
government promises $380 million in funding for the arts overall.
I can’t
see Radio Canada International being returned to its former glory because its
shortwave transmitters were dismantled and its soul all but ripped out by the
cuts. I am hopeful however that there
may be funding to expand its current weekly online programme in English (The
Link) and maybe even to air on shortwave via relay stations such as WRMI to the
Americas or Radio 700 to Europe. There may be a chance to reinstate or expand
some of the other RCI language services. What a fantastic gift that would be for us all!
I was touched to have my email read out on The
Link’s 26 December 2015 show (19 minutes in). As well as summarising the points
above I commented on an RCI feature on the Canadian oil industry and reminded people
that after the Paris climate change talks #COP21, when it comes to oil, be it a
glut or scarcity, cheap or expensive- it doesn’t matter. The key thing is to #keepitintheground.
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