Introduction In the words of Prime Minister R.W. Bennett Canadian
Broadcasting could be "a great agency for the communication of
matters of national concern and the diffusion of national thought and
ideas." Does the CBC fulfil the mandate originally set forward by
the Aird Commission? Does the CBC's current mandate reflect its
original purpose? How has the CBC coped with the changes
brought about by technology? Theses are questions that must be
answered if the CBC is to preserve Canada's unique cultural
environment from the ever growing threat of Americanization. It must
make an honest and focused effort to meet the needs of all
Canadians. The CBC has been a significant cultural force in
Canada since the inception of the CBRC in the 1930's and
continues to foster national unity today in the form of the CBC. If the
CBC is going to continue to provide a Canadian voice, it must
undergo serious change to meet the new challenges that technology
has presented. Faced with satellite television that offers hundreds
of chancels and the popularity of the Internet, Canadians have never
had more foreign influences present in the media. This cultural
imperialism is a clear threat to Canadian culture, a threat that must
be taken seriously by all Canadians. We watch American television
and films, we read American books and magazines far more often
than we watch or read Canadian media. The effect of this cannot be
taken lightly. We are in danger of cultural assimilation, now more
than ever. The CBC was created, in part, to counter the influx of
American media in Canada. Ironically there is a significant
presence of American programming on CBC television. This is
counter productive and hypocritical. This pa...