CBC publication, “Political and Controversial Broadcasting” (1944)

Statement of Policy

Political Broadcasting

For the proper functioning of representative and democratic government, it is essential that the public should be fully informed of the issues at stake any election and of the position and policies of the various parties towards those issues. Broadcasting is to-day one of the most powerful means of disseminating information of this kind.

The Canadian Broadcasting Act 1936 gives to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation full powers to guide and control all broadcasting, including political broadcasting. Section 22 of the statute states that the Corporation may make regulations “to prescribe the proportion of time which may be devoted to political broadcasts by the stations of the Corporation and by private stations, and to assign such time on an equitable basis to all parties and rival candidates.”

The Corporation assumes this responsibility as a function of public service broadcasting. In accordance with its general policy of encouraging fair and adequate presentation of controversial questions of public interest and concern, the Corporation has instituted a general plan for party political broadcasting. This plan includes the provision of network time free of charge to recognized political parties during dominion and provincial elections, thus giving all parties the opportunity of speaking to a wide public irrespective of their capacity to buy time, and a limited amount of free network time to recognized party leaders or their representatives in the periods between elections.

In addition to free network time, provision is made for the purchase of time on privately-owned stations under such control as will ensure an equitable division of such purchased time, and secure the public against an excessive amount of political broadcasting to the exclusion of entertainment and other normal programme material.