The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has decided to step away from their Twitter account following the platform’s decision to label the outlet as “government-funded media.”
The outlet, along with all other CBC and Radio-Canada related Twitter accounts, will reportedly pause all activity on Twitter.
In a Monday statement, CBC media relations director Leon Mar said Twitter was a tool for journalists to communicate, though the outlet’s decision to “falsely” label the outlet “government-funded media” was undermining CBC’s work, The Post Millennial reported.
In an email to The Canadian Press, Mar alleged Twitter had not contacted the CBC regarding their decision to label the outlet. The CBC had subsequently sent a letter to Twitter requesting the outlet re-evaluate their decision.
“I think it says a lot about the Conservative Party of Canada. They’re choosing to constantly attack independent media organizations, journalists who are working hard to keep Canadians informed and support our democracy,” Trudeau said of Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s request for Twitter to label the CBC as “government-funded media” last week. “CBC serves right across the country, delivers local news and local content in many regions of the country that, yes, has been challenged over the past years.”
“But the idea of adding to that challenges and laying on by attacking this Canadian institution, attacking the culture and local content that is so important to so many Canadians, really indicates the values and the approach that Mr. Poilievre is putting forward.”
Trudeau reacts to @elonmusk accurately labeling CBC as "government-funded media" pic.twitter.com/i4JOnRGKuE
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 17, 2023
“I think it is telling that in order to attack this institution that is important for many Canadians, he runs to American billionaires,” Trudeau continued of Poilievre’s request to Twitter owner Elon Musk. “The tech giants that they continue to defend in committee and in their approach on our legislation to make tech giants pay their fair share. Conservatives are always there to defend them.”
Last week the Conservative Party of Canada leader noted the CBC recieved almost $1.24 billion from the Canadian government, according to their 2021-2022 Annual Report in his request to Twitter.
“We must protect Canadians against disinformation and manipulation by state media,” Poilievre said of his request for Twitter to label the outlet. “It is a fact. And Canadians deserve the facts.”
We must protect Canadians against disinformation and manipulation by state media.
That is why I’m asking @Twitter @elonmusk to accurately label CBC as “government-funded media”.
It is a fact. And Canadians deserve the facts. pic.twitter.com/V1GRFHIcvz
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 11, 2023
Last week, National Public Radio (NPR), who also received Twitter’s latest label, similarly decided to step away from Twitter citing a “risk to [their] credibility.”
“NPR produces consequential, independent journalism every day in service to the public,” the outlet wrote in a Wednesday Twitter post encouraging users to download the NPR application.
NPR also instructed readers to follow the outlet’s newsletter along with their Instagram and Facebook.
“I would never have our content go anywhere that would risk our credibility,” said NPR CEO John Lansing said in an interview. “At this point I have lost my faith in the decision-making at Twitter.”
Twitter defines government-funded media as “outlets where the government provides some or all of the outlet’s funding and may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content.”
