CBC/Radio-Canada’s exemption from the government’s plans to reduce its spending on crown corporations “will lessen, but not eliminate” its estimated budget shortfall in fiscal 2024-25, according to a spokesperson for the pubcaster.

On Thursday (Feb. 29), the Treasury Board published the main estimates for 2024-25, with CBC/Radio-Canada not among the organizations impacted by a federal government plan to refocus billions in spending over five years.

The public broadcaster had cited a forecasted reduction in its parliamentary allocations as one of the reasons it would cut about 600 jobs and 200 vacant roles, and reduce its programming spend, due to a $125 million shortfall.

CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Catherine Tait told members of parliament in January that the corporation was anticipating a 3.3% reduction in its federal allocation in the forthcoming fiscal year.

Leon Mar, CBC corporate spokesperson and director, media relations and issues management, told Playback Daily that the exemption “is welcome news and recognition of the continued value of public broadcasting to Canadians.”

However, Mar noted that the pubcaster still faces the other challenges cited in the layoff announcement, including declining TV advertising revenue, rising production costs, and competition from global streaming services.

The 2024-25 estimates show the forecasted budget for CBC/Radio-Canada at $1.38 billion, a roughly $96 million increase from its budget of $1.29 billion in 2023-24.

Mar said that figure “does not represent additional funding, but is due to the government’s retroactive reimbursement for salary adjustments that the corporation has been paying over the past two years.” CBC/Radio-Canada had already forecast a $94 million increase to its operating appropriation.

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