The CBC is not the solution for local news
Recently, the Senate Transport and Communications Committee recognized a critical reality: local news is in jeopardy, and collective action is needed. This acknowledgement is a welcome first step. Local journalism is facing unprecedented challenges; since 2008, Canada has experienced a net loss of 343 local news outlets. At the same time, public trust in traditional journalism has declined as audiences increasingly turn to social media—a shift that has unfortunately accelerated the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
The problem is that, as a solution, the report recommends increasing funding to the CBC/Radio-Canada in hopes of revitalizing local coverage. Over the past two decades, the public broadcaster's strategy has shifted focus toward "regional hubs" and digital platforms. While this expanded their online reach, it centralized reporting resources into major urban centres, reducing the presence of journalists in smaller, local communities.
While centralized models have their place, relying too heavily on a single institution is not the way to address the local news problem. Rather than focusing resources so heavily on one network, support should go directly to the independent, grassroots outlets that already live in and serve these communities.
Among its recommendations, the committee suggests amending the Broadcasting Act to explicitly add “the reflection of local communities and audiences” to the CBC’s mandate. Yet, the act already features a robust framework recognizing community radio and television as foundational to local audiences—including minority, Indigenous, and francophone communities.
The report further suggests providing stable, multi-year funding to help the CBC prioritize local programming, building on the $150-million the government has already committed this year alone to this effort. What remains missing from these recommendations is any investment in independent local news outlets. These are the broadcasters and publications deeply rooted in their regions—the ones driving community fundraising, supporting local businesses, and providing the distinct neighborhood coverage that larger networks and the CBC cannot replicate.
For an estimated $30-million annually, the federal government could provide meaningful support to Canada’s network of more than 260 community, Indigenous, and campus radio stations. These stations currently receive less than one percent of the funding allocated by Google to support local news, are excluded from the labor tax credits available to commercial broadcasters, and receive no core federal funding.
Despite these financial hurdles, these stations rely on dedicated volunteer networks to deliver vital content to hundreds of Canadian communities. They cover municipal councils, provide essential information during local emergencies, and maintain a high level of trust with their listeners. From supporting local recreation centers to broadcasting in Indigenous languages to advance reconciliation, their impact is undeniable.
The committee did get one thing right in recommending that the CBC "collaborate at the local level with private and community media." For the past three years, the community radio sector has actively sought partnerships with the CBC to share content and collaborate on local initiatives. While these consultations still have yet to yield tangible results, the sector remains optimistic about potential joint training programs and content-sharing agreements.
This perspective is not meant as a critique of the CBC's broader value. The broadcaster does a great job of investigative journalism, international reporting, and telling national stories. However, covering distinct local news across a vast geography is impossible for any centralized organization. Even with successive investments, local communities will always lack direct CBC coverage.
This isn't a failure of management; it is simply a reality that a single broadcaster cannot be everywhere at once. So rather than throwing further resources into a monopoly, a more sustainable solution would be to invest in the broader Canadian broadcasting ecosystem.
Supporting the local media outlets that are already embedded in these communities is the most effective way to ensure a vibrant, pluralistic news landscape. The Senate committee’s report brings valuable attention to a vital issue, but the proposed solution misses the point.
Alex Freedman is the executive director of the Community Radio Fund of Canada which provides funding to more than 260 eligible community, Indigenous, and campus radio stations. Freedman spent 15 years at the CBC before serving as chief of staff at Laurentian University and for the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The Hill Times