If more than 20,000 signatures from Saskatchewan citizens is an indicator, a four-month campaign to save the 60-year-old CBC from federal budget cuts has found grassroots support.
Carrying 10 kilograms of paper signed by residents from across the province, Brenda Baker, Saskatchewan captain of the CBC Ours to Keep campaign, climbed aboard a flight bound for Toronto and a meeting with her counterparts from across the country.
“We had small communities from the U.S. border to La Ronge collecting signatures, as well as the larger centres,” said Baker.
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The towns of Manor, Kelvington and Spiritwood were highlighted in Baker’s speech as providing “incredible support for CBC.”
The Saskatchewan volunteer group of 80 people claim credit for saving the CBC Radio’s Afternoon Edition program and influencing decisions about the noon-hour farm broadcast on radio.
They hope the national petition sends a message to the government to curb further budget cuts in the face of a federal election.
“We want the government to drop the planned $50 million cut scheduled for this year and reverse the $100 million cuts made before this,” said Baker.
Travellers gathered at the airport for more traditional reasons lined up to sign the petition.
“We weren’t expecting this. We are surprised at the support wherever the petitions are available. We think there may have been many more names on the petitions if everyone in the province had had the opportunity to sign,” said Baker.
The results of the national petition were expected to be released later this week.
The group has said it will dissolve after that and a new group, Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, is expected to take up the cause.
