Government views CBC as a vital tool to shape “social cohesion”

The CBC is a vital government tool to promote “social cohesion” in Canada. At least, that’s what a federal briefing note from Heritage Canada obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter concludes.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The CBC is a vital government tool to promote “social cohesion” in Canada. At least, that’s what a federal briefing note from Heritage Canada obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter concludes.

The documents admits that while some Canadians are tuning out government messaging, the government views the CBC as a tool for promoting identity.

Blacklock’s said the September 24 briefing note was prepared for the heritage minister, a role Marc Miller assumed in December.

The note argued Canada faces “worrying trends” linked to polarization, declining trust in institutions and foreign-driven disinformation.

“Signs of renewed cohesion and civic pride have been emerging in the face of the United States administration’s posture and attitude towards Canadian sovereignty,” the note said. “However while this pride has grown significantly over the past year, certain segments of the population remain disengaged. There are worrying trends.”

The document, titled Fostering Canadian Identity To Strengthen Our Sovereignty And Social Cohesion, said “foreign state efforts” are driving social division and that “disinformation campaigns launched by foreign actors” are being amplified online.

It also cited a “growing overreliance on foreign owned platforms and content,” warning these trends “threaten our information sovereignty and continue to drive polarization and undermine our social cohesion.”

The note described Canada as facing “a series of crises including threats to our sovereignty and economy that may impact our national identity,” adding that “growing polarization, declining trust in public institutions and rising social fragmentation can undermine economic resilience and social cohesion.”

Federal managers said the CBC is central to countering these pressures.

“The CBC is a pillar of our cultural identity and a cornerstone of our sovereignty,” the note said, describing the public broadcaster as “a vital institution.”

The briefing note comes as the Liberal government has positioned the CBC as part of a broader effort to strengthen Canadian identity and counter foreign influence.

During the 2025 federal election, the Liberals promised to boost CBC subsidies by $150 million annually, raising its total funding to $1.4 billion. Prime Minister Mark Carney has described the public broadcaster as “the most important of Canadian institutions.”

“We will not only increase CBC funding by $150 million but we will also make this funding statutory, meaning Parliament as a whole will need to approve any future changes to its funding, not just the cabinet,” Carney said during the campaign.

Carney did not explain the reference to statutory funding. Federal spending, including the CBC’s annual budget, requires parliamentary approval.