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Something very strange and hopeful is happening in Ottawa…

20 Mar

CBC Radio Book Club | Douglas Coupland (Photo credit: RickChung.com)

Rather than a unified government voice to prepare Canadians for deep budget cuts, in recent days we have been hearing mixed messages from the Harper government. One day a government spokesperson declares cutting deeply is the budget goal only to be contradicted the next by a cabinet minister stating that the budget will be moderate. Meanwhile, the government is reporting that revenues are up while the deficit is down.

This is extremely rare, given the Prime Minister’s well known mania for control and message discipline.

Beset by the whiff of a robo-scandal, is it possible the Prime Minister is backing away from budget measures he knows will be controversial?

With all the tens of thousands of calls, letters and email messages from supporters of public broadcasting in the past few months, you can be sure the Prime Minister knows CBC cuts would be unpopular and controversial in the extreme.

Now is the time for one final push to defend our CBC before the March 29th budget.

I am writing to ask for your help to put us over the top.

We have commissioned Nanos Research to conduct a survey of Canadians about CBC funding. Early results are in and they show strong support for the government keeping its promise to maintain or increase support for the CBC. This is a very promising result that will send a strong message to the Harper government.

This public opinion survey and related communications will cost $30,000.

I urge you to join me in making a generous investment to help us raise this amount, because in this dynamic political environment, it could make all the difference.

It’s crunch time. This is the moment to drive home the message that cutting the CBC would be like poking a stick into a hornets’ nest.

Your contribution will help us leave no stone unturned as we fight to make sure the Prime Minister knows that citizens want his government to keep his government’s CBC promise.