CBC Expenses

[M.Dancer]

The CBC is among many media outlets across the country that are strongly criticizing MPs for a lack of transparency, but the Crown Corporation is in the midst of its own, much quieter, battle to prevent the release of its taxpayer-funded expenses.

The Crown Corporation received $1.2-billion last year from Ottawa roughly twice the $544-million spent on Parliament. It is currently in a Federal Court battle with the Access to Information Commissioner, who disputes the CBCs blanket refusal to disclose any information regarding its journalistic, creative or programming activities, citing section 68.1 of the Access to Information Act.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/cbc-doesnt-think-turnabout-is-fair-play-on-expenses/article1577427/

Of course they have a very good reason for hiding their expenses....but they can't tell you what it is.

Edited May 21, 2010 by M.Dancer

[Remiel]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/cbc-doesnt-think-turnabout-is-fair-play-on-expenses/article1577427/

Of course they have a very good reason for hiding their expenses....but they can't tell you what it is.

Before answering whether they should have their expenses released, the question to ask I believe would be whether it would be a trade secrets sort of thing: that is, would it just be giving other media outlets a professional upper hand?

[Wild Bill]

Before answering whether they should have their expenses released, the question to ask I believe would be whether it would be a trade secrets sort of thing: that is, would it just be giving other media outlets a professional upper hand?

Why would that matter? It's not as if they were in a competitive situation. The CBC gets its funding regardless of its ratings. Although CBC Radio does moderately well in ratings, CBC TV has always had lame and poor ratings compared to Global and CTV.

Frankly, the other outlets couldn't care less about any CBC trade secrets! Many times I have been at televised events and watched how the CBC would have many times the number of people involved with cameras, cables and such compared with any other media outlet. The old joke about city workers filling potholes, where one guy mans the shovel and 12 guys watch him is quite true when the CBC covers an event.

If anyone wants to tell me I'm wrong, just go to any such event yourself! You can see them with your own eyes! You can reach out and touch them, if you get close enough.

I would love to see a release of their expenses, particularly as regards salaries! There's long been a saying in journalism circles that if all you care about is a fat paycheck then you should work for the CBC.

[M.Dancer]

Before answering whether they should have their expenses released, the question to ask I believe would be whether it would be a trade secrets sort of thing: that is, would it just be giving other media outlets a professional upper hand?

I doubt it. Production values and what they cost are no big mystery.

What Evan Soloman is paid is ....and that ain't a trade secret in so much that it would give CTV an edge by knowing...afterall, his agent knows and his agent is out there looking for more..

[Smallc]

What Evan Soloman is paid is ....and that ain't a trade secret in so much that it would give CTV an edge by knowing...afterall, his agent knows and his agent is out there looking for more..

Whatever he's getting paid, it's too much.

[M.Dancer]

It's cmmon knowledge, from salaries to set design, the CBC pays more than the privates...

[August1991]

Of course they have a very good reason for hiding their expenses....but they can't tell you what it is.

Why does the CBC/Radio-Canada even have expenses?

In a world with the Internet, why is the State involved in the media? Why do taxpayers give money to these journalists/actors?

[Handsome Rob]

Before answering whether they should have their expenses released, the question to ask I believe would be whether it would be a trade secrets sort of thing: that is, would it just be giving other media outlets a professional upper hand?

Would this be any different than what other networks routinely release in financial reports to their stake-holders?