CBC losing national unity mandate

Year Published:  1990
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX4082

Abstract: 
The Progressive Conservative government is dropping the section of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's mandate that requires it to "contribute to the development of national unity". Some critics have cautiously welcomed the change because they say that the CBC has used the mandate to justify biased coverage of issues such as Meech Lake and free trade. On both issues, the CBC was widely seen as provided biased coverage promoting the government's position in favour of free trade and Meech Lake. The federal government has said that the change to the mandate removes any pressure on the CBC to toe the government line. However, a number of opponents of the change have characterized it as another step in the government's systematic gutting of institutions and policies that promote Canadian national interests, including VIA rail, the Foreign Investment Review Agency, and the National Film Board.