OTTAWA – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (Saanich-Gulf Islands), Jo-Ann Roberts, Former All-Points West Host and candidate (Victoria), and Claire Martin, award winning CBC journalist and candidate (North Vancouver), held a press conference to denounce the selling off of CBC assets in Vancouver and across the country.
“The sell off of CBC assets is the perfect example of the consequences of the Harper Decade. CBC Vancouver’s building on Hamilton Street was renovated a few years ago. CBC took a fiscally prudent approach to these renovations: They raised $80 million from a combination of the sale of its parking lot, rental income from new commercial units, and internal funds. For all that effort, Canada is about to lose this building that is essential to re-invigorating the CBC. On October 19th, with Green voters across Canada, we will remove the ‘For Sale’ sign in front of CBC in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal,” said May.
“The renovations to CBC Vancouver’s building on Hamilton Street includes state of the art TV and radio studios without equal on the West Coast other than Los Angeles. We will never get such a facility again,” added Jo-Ann Roberts, former All-Points West Host and Green Party Arts, Culture, and Heritage Critic (Victoria).“The Green Party has the best plan for restoring CBC’s role as a public broadcaster. We will ensure Canadians continue to receive quality content and create an expert arms-length body to appoint board members of cultural institutions to end partisan political interference.”
“The Green Party will provide stable funding to the CBC and Radio-Canada,” concluded Claire Martin, award winning CBC journalist and candidate (North Vancouver). “Green MPs commit to reversing Stephen Harper’s $117-million cuts and invest in rebuilding the CBC and Radio-Canada’s local coverage and capacity.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
kirsten.strom@greenparty.ca