Catherine Tait says CBC needs new financial model, not new mandate

OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s public broadcaster says it’s the financial model and governance of CBC/Radio-Canada that need reviewing — not its mandate. 

Catherine Tait made the comments today to a room of industry insiders at Prime Time, a conference for the broadcasting, film and media industry. 

Tait is pushing for a long-term financial structure such as a charter, similar to that at the BBC, which has a six-year funding agreement with the U.K. government. 

She says CBC gets its annual funding based on the parliamentary cycle, leaving the broadcaster in a perpetual state of uncertainty.