As It Happens

CBC in "crisis": Senate communications committee chair, Dennis Dawson

In recent days, the Senate committee examining CBC's mandate has made news over CBC's disclosures around the salaries of its senior hosts. But that's an unfortunate distraction, says Sen. Dennis Dawson, the committee chair. The public broadcaster is in crisis, he says, saying an antiquated Broadcasting Act and changing media landscape have made it difficult for CBC to meet its...
In recent days, the Senate committee examining CBC's mandate has made news over CBC's disclosures around the salaries of its senior hosts. But that's an unfortunate distraction, says Sen. Dennis Dawson, the committee chair. The public broadcaster is in crisis, he says, saying an antiquated Broadcasting Act and changing media landscape have made it difficult for CBC to meet its mandate.

The Broadcasting Act, passed in 1991, didn't envision a world where people watch the Olympics on their iPads and their television on Netflix, Sen. Dawson, a Liberal, tells Carol. His sentiments echo those of CBC President Hubert Lacroix, who Carol spoke to last week.

But Sen. Dawson also suggests there are issues with CBC's governance, in particular because Mr. Lacroix was appointed by the prime minister, and not by CBC's board of directors -- even though CBC is accountable to Parliament, not the current government. He adds there are cultural differences between CBC and Radio-Canada, the French-language service, that aren't properly addressed.

He says the committee will be holding public hearings across the country starting later this year, which will allow individual Canadians to offer their vision for the public broadcaster.

Listen to Carol's conversation with Sen. Dawson by clicking the "listen" link above.