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Just days before the tabling of a federal budget that could confirm cuts to the CBC, a Nanos poll commissioned by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting indicates that more than 80 per cent of Canadians are satisfied with the programming on CBC radio and TV and with the content on its website.

The survey, which polled 1,004 people, also indicates that a clear majority of Canadians want to maintain or increase public funding for the CBC.

Nearly 60 per cent of respondents supported the statement made by Heritage Minister James Moore following the elections of May 2, 2011: “We have said that we will maintain or increase support for the CBC. That is our platform and we have said that before and we will commit to that.”

However last December, Minister Moore changed his tune and indicated that the CBC would be affected by planned cuts to the federal budget.

“That is blatantly unfair, since the CBC has seen its public funding decline by six per cent since 2006, while other government spending has increased by 18 per cent,” noted Isabelle Doyon, president of the union representing Radio-Canada office workers and professionals (CUPE 675).

The publication of this survey is part of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting “I love the CBC” campaign, and coincides with the intensification of its French counterpart, “J’aime Radio-Canada”, run by Local 675. Hundreds of people have expressed their commitment to Radio-Canada by participating in a photo petition.

Across Canada and even in other countries, with family, friends or caucus (in the case of the NDP), hundreds have been photographed holding the “J’aime Radio-Canada” logo. They have shared their photos on Facebook and on the jaimeradiocanada.com website.

Several celebrities have participated in the “J’aime Radio-Canada” campaign, including Bob Walsh, Mes Aïeux, Alfa Rococo and Jean-Michel Dufaux. There is also a video montage of the photo petition on YouTube.

With more than 110,000 members in Quebec, CUPE represents 8,150 workers in the province’s communications sector.
  

For more information, please contact:

Sébastien Goulet
CUPE Communications
Cell: 438 882-3756