CBC blew $93k of taxpayers’ dime on award galas: taxpayers group

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the CBC for spending more than $93,000 of public funds on journalism award galas over the past five years.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing the CBC for spending more than $93,000 of public funds on journalism award galas over the past five years.

According to access to information records obtained by the CTF, the state broadcaster spent $54,390 on entry fees for the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada awards between 2019 and 2024.

Another $38,668 went to travel and attendance costs, though no travel expenses were logged for 2021 or 2022.

The CTF argues taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for staff to attend what it calls “pat-yourself-on-the-back” events.

“Taxpayers should not be paying for CBC bureaucrats to travel to awards galas,” said Kris Sims, Alberta Director with the federation.

“The CBC has a firehose of taxpayers’ money, and it’s getting wasted here.”

The Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada awards are annual national and regional competitions recognizing excellence in broadcast and digital journalism.

CBC has consistently dominated, making up 65 per cent of national nominees this year and 72 per cent of prairie region nominees.

In 2024, the broadcaster was also listed as a platinum sponsor, at a cost of $15,000.

The CTF also points to broader funding pressures, noting the broadcaster’s annual public subsidy will exceed $1.4 billion this year.

“It’s unfair for other media organizations to have to compete with the bloated, top-heavy, taxpayer-funded CBC for these awards,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF’s Prairie Director.

“The CBC needs to cut this frivolous expense and stop charging taxpayers to jet off to awards shows”.

CBC News Network currently holds a 1.8 per cent share of prime-time viewing, according to federal records cited by the CTF, meaning 98.2 per cent of Canadians don’t tune in.