CANADALAND Is the CBC a Local News Predator?
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May 6, 2026 Harrison Lohman, managing editor at The Hub and media critic focused on Canadian journalism policy, discusses CBC's regional expansion and claims it drains smaller newsrooms. He explores how scale, subsidies and proposed tax credits for broadcasters reshape competition. Conversations cover recruitment tensions, grant-driven incentives, and whether propping up legacy outlets blocks new models.
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CBC Expansion Can Crowd Out Local Outlets
- CBC's regional expansion is funded by taxpayer money and can crowd out smaller local outlets despite serving remote areas where no local news exists.
- Harrison Lohman and Sam Konnert note CBC hired 30 reporters and targets midsize cities like Red Deer and Medicine Hat, raising concerns about market distortion.
Local Owner Says CBC Poached Trained Reporter
- A Medicine Hat local operator accused the CBC of hiring one of his trained employees after the station closed, which CBC's president framed as normal HR mobility.
- Marie-Philippe Bouchard said the employee applied and later left for another province, calling it "business."
Tax Credit Expansion Could Greatly Increase Funding
- The government is broadening the Journalism Labour Tax Credit to include radio and TV, potentially doubling or vastly increasing available payroll subsidies.
- Mark Miller suggested the fund "could be equivalent to some $6 billion," raising stakes for legacy broadcasters.