As many of you were likely listeners to CBC Radio 2 in particular, possibly supporters of the CBC Radio Orchestra, and bought recordings made by CBC, you know that the arts and culture in Canada have taken a serious blow in the past few months.

In the last while, there have been some political ramifications revealed to this.

First of all, check out the Friends of the CBC website where there is a petition to the current (hopefully to be gone shortly) prime minister, regarding the devastation to the CBC organization as a whole. They have a form letter you can submit, which you can alter as you wish. This is what I submitted:

‘I know that one of your many mandates is to privatize the CBC. This is one of the points in the ‘Agenda for Canada’ of the organization, National Citizens Coalition, with which you have been closely associated.

Also, on May 19, 2004 you said:

“I’ve suggested that government subsidies in support of CBC’s services should be to those things that are not… Do not have commercial alternatives.”

“When you take a look at things like main-English language television and probably to a lesser degree Radio Two, you could there (sic) at putting those on a commercial basis.”

CBC Radio 2 has been ruined, reduced to the least common denominator. I feel this has been deliberately carried out, under the conservative agenda, as a first step in privatization and commercialization. Also the CBC Radio Orchestra has be dismissed, and CBC recordings shut down. Where CBC used to be in the vanguard of Canadian musical production, presentation and distribution, it has been totally eviscerated in this national role.

I, for one, truly resent these moves to our, state again OUR, national radio, which is supposed to be protected by our, state again OUR (not your own personal) government.

The arts under your government have taken a significant beating. For me, this is an important issue for the upcoming election. I encourage you to clearly state that a Conservative government will not sell off any CBC service and that you oppose commercials on CBC Radio, our NATIONAL PUBLIC (STATE AGAIN, PUBLIC) RADIO.

It’s important that you clear this up now, especially in light of the outrageous changes to Radio Two programs introduced this week by the President recently appointed by your government.

Please get back to me.’

The National Citizens Coalition (punctuation error theirs) is a far right wing conservative think tank based in Alberta. Harper was president. If you look at the ‘About NCC’ page, you will find a link to their ‘Agenda for Canada’. Point 7 is to privatize the CBC. You might also recognize some of the other points that are remarkably similar the current conservative agenda.

So be very aware of where these moves against the arts, music, literacy etc are coming from.