Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new spending review has ordered every major Crown corporation—including CBC/Radio-Canada—to draw up plans that would trim as much as 15% from their operating budgets over the next three years.
CBC CEO Marie-Philippe Bouchard told employees in an internal memo that the broadcaster must identify up to $198 million in annual “savings.” She cautioned that “reductions of this size, if implemented, would have an impact on some jobs,” but stressed that, for now, the government wants proposals only.
Final decisions will surface with the 2026-27 Main Estimates early next year, she wrote, and “any necessary action would be taken only after that time.”
The directive is part of a wider effort to carve out $25 billion in annual federal savings and re-align cash toward the military, after Ottawa pledged an extra $9 billion for defence this year and signed a fresh NATO spending pledge.
Aside from CBC, The National Gallery of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, Via Rail, and other federally funded institutions confirmed they, too, have been told to find up to 15% in savings. By contrast, the Department of National Defence, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the RCMP received a far lighter 2% target.
Unions and opposition MPs warn the plan mirrors Stephen Harper’s post-2008 Deficit Reduction Action Plan, which erased tens of thousands of federal positions.
“Liberal government cuts to the public service while Donald Trump threatens our workers and economy, and people face a cost-of-living crisis, are damaging and wrong,” NDP interim leader Don Davies said, urging Carney to slash outside contractors instead.
Cabinet members will vet each agency’s proposals, but Treasury Board officials told the Toronto Star that “very little appears to be off the table” except statutory transfers, Parliament, federal courts, and certain cost-recovered agencies.
The government says it wants to target programs that are “underperforming, not core to the mandate, duplicative, or misaligned with priorities.”
But the move also exposes tension inside Carney’s own campaign platform. Liberals promised an extra $150 million for the CBC during the spring election, yet the broadcaster now faces potential cuts larger than that pledge. Analysts note that forcing CBC to slash nearly one-fifth of its budget while expecting it to modernize digital services may undermine the network’s public service mandate.
Information for this briefing was found via Toronto Star and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
