Senate plans to probe CBC operations [View all]

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — The Senate is planning a comprehensive review of the CBC’s role in Canadian society examining how it has used billions of dollars in government subsidies received over the years.

A Senate committee, led by Liberal Sen. Dennis Dawson, approved the review Tuesday, and it will be conducted through public hearings slated to begin in the coming months.

Dawson, noting that he had a preference for having the committee looking at some other issues such as rail safety or Montreal’s crumbling Champlain Bridge, said that the CBC review became more pressing in light of last week’s television deal that will cause the public broadcaster to lose advertising revenues from Hockey Night in Canada.

He also dismissed questions about whether the Conservative majority on the committee could drive the review to attack the public broadcaster, reflecting some well-known anti-CBC views from within Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s caucus.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Senate+plans+probe+operations/9242930/story.html