Carney, Singh pledge support for CBC/Radio-Canada amid U.S. threats [Video]

Liberal Leader Mark Carney and the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh expressed support Friday for federal spending to ensure a strong national public broadcaster, a notion Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre dismissed as something Canada simply can’t afford.

On the federal election trail, Carney and Singh each said a healthy CBC/Radio-Canada is crucial to protecting the country’s sovereignty in the face of attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump and the general rise of misinformation.

Poilievre has repeatedly spoken of his desire to “defund” the CBC while preserving its French-language services.

During a campaign visit to Montreal, Carney pledged to boost CBC/Radio-Canada’s funding by an initial $150 million and enshrine its funding structure in law so that Parliament would have to approve any changes, while directing the corporation to develop a new strategic plan.

“We will modernize the mandate of our public broadcaster, we will give it the resources it needs to fulfil its …