March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty may announce this year that he’s selling some of the federal government’s assets, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported today, citing an interview to be aired tomorrow.
Flaherty told the broadcaster that the sale could include government-owned corporations as well as assets such as buildings.
Flaherty said there are “substantial” opportunities, according to the government-owned CBC. He didn’t elaborate on the details of the assets or the amount of funds that could be generated, according to the interview with the CBC.
18 comments:
Selling off our assets is, as one of the panelists stated, a one time money grab and will leave Canada and Canadians poorer in the end. As in the past, these assets will be sold at fire sale prices to friends of the governing party. I hope that, when Flaherty starts the sales, the opposition parties will finally find a reason to defeat this gang of incompetents. In my opinion, the LPC is once again making the wrong move by allowing this budget to pass by default, which is, in my opinion, cowardly and contemptous.
The point of opposition should not be against the sale per se, but rather, against the sale of an asset at the bottom of the market, when we are receiving only a tenth of its actual value. The Conservatives are weak on this point: they have a reputation of being good financially, but selling assets at fire-sale prices tarnishes this reputation.
Downes, good point
The CBC will never have a higher value than it does right now, it should be sold off in pieces and the subsidy terminated.
Why all these anonymous comments without a name attached. I use ananymous as well, but at least put my first name and last name initial, to differentiate between another poster by my first name.
IIRC, 60% of the pop wanted to keep the CBC in a recent pool. Sorry I can't find the poll right now. Of course, the supporters of CPC would like to get rid of it, along with every news media that questions/disagrees with the CPC policies.
Penny N.
Hey Penny, the "friends of the CBC" should put their money where their mouth is and offer to buy it from the government and try to make a go of it sans subsidy.
That will never happen of course, because with the left it is always other peoples money.
Harry Balls
How is the CBC an "asset" when we have to pump a billion in taxes into each year? I always thought an asset was something that had a positive value. The only way to make a profit off the CBC is to sell whatever bits of it someone is willing to buy, shutdown the rest, and save the Billion for something we actually need.
It depends what you mean by asset. Clearly the CBC has a value as an asset -- perhaps not as a business but it has property with value. The real question is does maintaining the CBC make sense as a core functionof the Federal government. I think it does -- although I question how the CBC does it. I would change a lot about the CBC and its programing but I'd keep a national broadcaster.
You did a great job on Michael Coren Show.
Regarding the CBC if you look at the value for the money invested in the name of "culture" can we find a higher priority?
BBM TV Ratings show the CBC programs do not support Canadian programming.
Why are taxpayers dollars supporting Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy? Do we need to fund HNIC through the CBC, why not let some private broadcaster pay to air NHL?
Do taxpayers need to fund $ 700k annual salary of Don Cherry for the sake of Canadian culture?
Compare PBS, they regularly solicit funds for their programming. Why not require CBC to stop competing with our limited tax dollars against private companies and provide Canadian culture that is under represented but is supported by its viewers through donations?
TV Ratings
http://bbm.ca/index.php
Hockey Night In Canada is the only viable production that airs on the CBC, a real network or cable company would more likely than not buy that asset.
As for the rest, issue the pink slips and sell the hard assets.
And on another note, I wonder how the CRA's investigation into the David Suzuki Foundation is going?
Greenpeace lost charitable status while the Liberals were the government.
The CBC is a positive influence from coast to coast to coast in this country. It is the only public investigative process in this country and brings points to the public that would not other wise be known....the latest on Afghan comes to mind. The CBC has been a thorne in the side of government in this country since Trudeau's time. How does the BBC and ABC Australia manage to produce good programing without using American programming? The people of the country support these broadcasters with their tax dollar. Gawd if we cannot keep CBC as a Canadian entity what in hell do we keep? Hudson Bay Co. is no longer Canadian. Aw yes...let's realize that Harper hates the CBC. Is there no loyalty to a totally Canadian Corp?
Anyong,
the ratings of the CBC refute your claims on the value of the taxpayers money.
The TV rankings are available and the "NEWS" never hit the top 30.
Can you explain why taxpayers are paying Don Cherry $ 700k for his views?
Can you explain why Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy are the most regular shows the CBC airs that hit top 30?
So let a private broadcaster pay fo Don Cherry and our Hockey viewing.
American TV Games should not be funded with taxpayers dollars.
Government's in Canada haven't provided enough of out tax dollar so it can produce good Canadian programming. While I was working overseas, I viewed more Canadian good movies and documentaries about Canada produced in Canada that I have ever seen in this country. Canadians are responsible for the kind of programming we are getting via the CBC just like Canadians are responsible for the kind of stupid governments we have been electing for the past 20 years. Canadians can make the government back down regarding the Anthem, they can do the same with everything else that is not ethical in this country.
ASME says......The CBC has been suffering cuts backs for years. They need money to produce good programming....period.
ASME,
the cuts began under Mulroney and greatly increased by Paul Martin.
Can you link me evidence the CPC have cut funding to the CBC since coming to power in 2006?
The CBC are NOT funded to compete with everyone and should drop AMERICAN games shows, dismal news programs (can't break top 30) CTV and Global beat them on a consistent basis.
They need to live and produce good content vs trying to do everything poorly.
The PBS model has great shows and Canadians views are sending money to support PBS programming.
S. De Maries says.......quote..
The 1991 Broadcasting Act states that...
...the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains; ...the programming provided by the Corporation should:
be predominantly and distinctively Canadian,
reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions,
actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression,
be in English and in French, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, including the particular needs and circumstances of English and French linguistic minorities,
strive to be of equivalent quality in English and French,
contribute to shared national consciousness and identity,
be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose, and
reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada.
The CBC can only do this if it is provided with money it needs in order to comply.
Canadian Sense..You have partly regurgitated what my comments have been. The present government may not have implemented cutbacks on the CBC but they darn well haven't increased any either. I'll say it again.......in order to have good programming, CBC must have the funds to do so. CBC is using American programming to fill air time due to lack of funds....while CTV does not? Private broadcasters in
Canada are not producing programming that keeps Canadian interest either. I'm talking about funding. No funding, no good programming! Kapeech? So stop trying to make something different to what is presented. ASME
The CBC has had funding increased since 2006?
The CPC have increased funding into different priorities including Healthcare, Education and Social Services -ask Kevin Page the biggest increases.
If the CBC Union, lobbyists want MORE money for a lousy product who REALLY cares?
I have linked the BBM TV ratings and we are NOT watching the CBC for a long time.
If the friends of CBC can't produce a quality product not supported by tv viewers than it is CLEAR they are not necessary.
The Political left or right don't control the TV ratings and if the CBC can't deliver, it is time for rationalization.
PBS is a much better model with lower staff overhead and more money for actual programming viewers are funding.
Post a Comment