Preserve the CBC!!!

k guys!
Just got this in my email:

FRIENDS has learned from a reliable confidential source of Conservative plans to slash a devastating $200 million from the CBC's Parliamentary grant, which would cripple the radio and television operations of our national public broadcaster. During the election campaign we noted with great concern Prime Minister Harper's dismissal of culture as "a niche issue for some" while belittling Canadian artists as a "bunch of people at a rich gala... all subsidized by the taxpayers". We intercepted the Conservative Party's anti-CBC fund raising letter during the campaign and made it public. When a reporter asked Mr. Harper during the campaign to answer the question whether he supported CBC's Parliamentary grant, he refused to respond.

As you know, last week's economic update has provoked a political crisis in Ottawa with the three opposition parties announcing Monday that they are joining forces to defeat the Harper government and support a Liberal/NDP coalition until at least June 2010. It's worth noting that the Liberal/NDP "accord", which the Bloc has offered to support, specifically refers to two of our priorities:

1. "Both parties are committed to restoring the integrity, transparency and efficiency of the appointments process in the Public Service and in federal bodies like the Supreme Court, the Senate, and Commissions like the CRTC."
2. "Other Priorities to Stimulate the Economy: support for culture, including the cancellation of budget cuts announced by the Conservative government."

Clearly messages sent by hundreds of FRIENDS' supporters have had an impact!

Now that Parliament has been prorogued, FRIENDS is monitoring the crisis and calling on all the parties to invest in culture as a contribution to economic recovery. We invite you to join us by sending a message to your MP with copies to the party leaders. You can do this by clicking the link below:

www.friends.ca/invest-in-culture

I just sent my letter to Jack Layton. Feel free to send yours!