Ottawa – NDP Heritage Critic, Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay), went on the offensive yesterday on behalf of the 5,500 locked out CBC workers. Citing a lack of vision and stable funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Angus blamed a decade of mismanagement by Liberals for the current dispute.

“One week ago today the CBC effectively went off the air. Our national broadcaster ceased to produce new stories. The national conversation turned into dead air,” said Angus. “Every minute that the staff of our national broadcaster is on the picket line is another minute of Canadian stories not being told.”

Angus also challenged the Minister to take real action instead of hiding behind quick sound bites. He cited multiple failings of the Liberal government including:

• The lack of adequate, long-term stable funding for programming, both dramatic and current events.
• A failure to direct the CRTC to halt the micromanaging of CBC day-to-day operations.
• Inaction on changes to the Broadcasting Act that would recognize complimentary services the CBC offers.

“We know that the Minister doesn’t have the power to unchain the doors of the CBC, but she should be speaking out publicly. If Air Canada was grounded for a week – I am certain that the Transport Minister would have something to say about it. Where is Madam Frulla?”

Lending his support to the Canadian Media Guild’s position that the CBC management’s plan to hire temporary workers places the CBC and its future at risk Angus said:

“The NDP supports the front-line employees who make the CBC work. I have written a letter to Minister Frulla demanding immediate action. I have also sought a meeting with the Minister to express my concerns directly. I, and the rest of Canada, look forward to her response.”

After his press conference in the National Press Theatre, Angus went out to join the locked-out CBC workers on Ottawa’s Sparks Street Mall.