A recent report from a research center at McGill University is advocating for the inclusion of public safety in CBC/Radio-Canada’s responsibilities due to the reemergence of wildfires in Canada. The report highlights that public media globally are integrating national emergency preparedness and crisis response into their functions and suggests formalizing and strengthening this aspect within CBC’s mandate.
Jessica Johnson, a senior fellow at McGill University’s Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy and co-author of the report, emphasized how wildfires and floods have become more prevalent in Canada over the past five years, affecting not only heavily forested regions but the entire country and neighboring areas.
In response to the recent wildfires, special air-quality statements were issued on Monday and Tuesday across the country, urging residents to limit outdoor activities and monitor symptoms of smoke exposure. The wildfires have displaced thousands of individuals in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta this spring and summer.
The report also highlights concerns about misinformation during wildfires, noting that influential groups on social media have spread false information blaming arson by green terrorists and the government for the fires, leading to distrust in the media when accurate information is crucial.
Furthermore, the report discusses broader issues of misinformation, such as Facebook blocking news content in Canada and the increasing reliance on generative AI for information, despite the risk of false information dissemination.
Johnson stressed the importance of public media evolving to address current challenges, citing examples of other countries adapting their public media mandates in response to climate change and security threats. The report underscores the critical role of public media as part of the communication infrastructure in safeguarding democracy.
The Liberal government has pledged to boost CBC’s funding by $150 million annually and enhance its mandate to include the transmission of life-saving information during emergencies. Johnson emphasized the need for CBC to not only relay government information but also question and hold the government accountable.
Ensuring the CBC can fulfill its tasks effectively, particularly at the local level, is crucial. Johnson proposed collaborating with local independent journalists as a viable model to enhance coverage and information dissemination, especially in areas where the CBC serves as a primary media source.
With evolving technology, considerations must be made for technical challenges during emergencies, such as internet and cellphone network disruptions. The report calls for a restructured CBC/Radio-Canada to meet the changing landscape of emergency preparedness in Canada.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced a consultation on improving the public alert system to address the evolving emergency communication needs of the country. Johnson’s report emphasizes the necessity for CBC/Radio-Canada to adapt its structure to better serve the nation’s emergency preparedness requirements.