Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern over independent, non-government funded journalists who provide alternative perspectives than what the CBC used to be able to control in the pre-internet era.

Trudeau made his comments while speaking on Ryan Jasperson’s Real Talk podcast.

The Prime Minister reminisced about the times when traditional broadcasters like CBC, CTV, and Global maintained a “common set of facts.” 

“There’s a deliberate undermining of mainstream media,” he said, claiming that popular social media users spread disinformation and take away from a shared understanding of facts.

Trudeau lamented over the times “When CBC and CTV…used to project across the country at least a common understanding of things.” 

He also criticized the role of platforms like Facebook for not taking responsibility for the content they host, stating that Facebook is still refusing to let the Canadian government dictate what content they prioritize.

“Facebook is still choosing to be bad guys about this,” he said. 

Trudeau further mentioned that his government is “putting money towards local independent media.” 

In his call for media reform, Trudeau advocated for “strong, clear voices” in journalism that rely on evidence-based reporting and thoughtful investigation. He emphasized the importance of cultivating critical thinking among Canadians to navigate the modern media environment’s complexities.

Nearly half of Canadians think CBC is Liberal propaganda

An April 2023 poll showed that nearly half of Canadians believe the CBC is Liberal propaganda. Furthermore, 45% are attracted to the idea of shutting down the CBC completely in order to save tax dollars. 

On top of two recent whistleblowers quitting and denouncing the network, CBC printed memorable bits of misinformation and “Russia!” conspiracy theories in its 2022 Freedom Convoy reporting.