The Canadian public broadcaster announced on Monday the temporary suspension of its activities on Twitter. CBC/Radio-Canada thus joins the protests of other public broadcasters who have been called a “government-funded media” by the company owned by Elon Musk. The management of the Canadian channel – both in English and in French – pointed out that this label wrongly implies that the government of the North American country can intervene in the editorial content. “Our journalism is impartial and independent. To say otherwise is false”, expressed its administrators in the message which informed them of the suspension of their activities on Twitter.

CBC/Radio-Canada indicated that it does receive funding from public resources, but through a mechanism voted on by all parliamentarians. It also said its editorial independence is protected by the Broadcasting Act and that its employees work to a guide to journalistic standards and practices. “Twitter’s policy defines government-funded media as instances where the government may have varying degrees of involvement in editorial content, which is clearly not the case with CBC/Radio-Canada,” it said. declared the public channel.

Last Wednesday, the United States Public Broadcasting Service (known as NPR) announced its removal from Twitter for being so labeled by the social network. On Friday, public broadcaster PBS made the same decision. The British BBC protested by receiving the same mention. In response, Twitter changed the UK network’s label to “state-funded media”.

Last week, Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, asked the social network to include the hashtag on CBC/Radio-Canada accounts. Poilievre – like a good part of the members of the conservative group – maintains that Canadian public broadcasting is extremely close to the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau. Following Twitter’s decision on Sunday, the Tory leader said: “Now people know this is Trudeau propaganda and not news.” Prime Minister Trudeau said Monday it was a Conservative strategy against quality journalism and Canadian culture and identity. He said Poilievre is “turning to American billionaires to attack an institution that is very important to Canadians.”

In its 2021-2022 report, CBC/Radio-Canada reported receiving C$1.24 billion in public funds (approximately US$927 million). Its radio service was founded in 1936, while its television service began in 1952. On Monday night, Twitter changed the label from “government-funded media” to “70% government-funded media.”

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