Look, Canada’s on fire—literally and figuratively. We’ve got a housing crisis, Arctic sovereignty threats, and the United States acting like it’s shopping for countries on Facebook Marketplace. And yet, Pierre Poilievre keeps waking up angry at the CBC like it personally foreclosed on his childhood treehouse. I grew up in a time and place where there were three TV channels. That’s it. CTV, CBC English, and CBC French. If the wind shifted or your antenna got bumped by a curious raccoon, you were down to fuzz. The CBC wasn’t just part of my childhood—it was the soundtrack. The Friendly Giant, Chez Hélène, Bobino, and Mr. Dressup raised more Canadians than any government childcare policy ever did. CBC Radio was on in the kitchen before school and on the long drive to the cottage. As It Happens, Quirks and Quarks, The Vinyl Café—these weren’t just shows. They were national rituals. Now people want to scrap it. They say it’s “irrelevant” or “biased.” Right. Because we definitely don’t need publicly funded journalism, cultural programming, or national coverage in 2025—what with all the totally unbiased, not-at-all algorithmically poisoned content people are getting from TikTok and YouTube conspiracy influencers. And those who claim it’s just a mouthpiece for the Liberals? Curious logic. The CBC isn’t perfect, but it’s one of the last institutions that still bothers to show up in Iqaluit, Prince Rupert, and Wabush. It covers Indigenous voices without needing to hashtag it for clicks. It broadcasts in eight languages in the North. It gives us The Fifth Estate, Marketplace, The National, Still Standing, Sort Of, Bones of Crows, and even Run the Burbs. It finds you where you are—radio, TV, streaming, podcast, app, and yes, even YouTube. And let’s put this “Liberal propaganda” thing to bed. This Hour Has 22 Minutes has roasted Trudeau so many times they could legally call it a BBQ. Meanwhile, George Stroumboulopoulos—yes, the leather jacket CBC guy—has openly supported electoral reform and even praised elements of Conservative climate policy when it was rooted in market mechanisms. Shocking, I know: nuance. It’s about silencing a voice that tells Canada’s story—all of it, even the uncomfortable parts. The CBC must remain. Because without it, there’s no This Hour Has 22 Minutes, no The Current, no The National, and no real alternative to American noise. You want to defund that? Be honest. It’s not about budget cuts. It’s about silencing a voice that tells Canada’s story—all of it, even the uncomfortable parts.
Pull that thread called CBC from the Canadian tapestry, and you don’t just lose programming—you unravel a shared national identity.
Nancy's Notes 