Good evening, Madam Chair, Vice-Chairs Waugh and Champoux, and members of the committee.

My name is Sylvia Martin-Laforge. I'm the director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network.

The QCGN is here today representing the English-speaking community of Quebec, Canada's largest official language minority, with over 1.3 million members. Our mission is to advocate for the rights and the vitality of this unique community. Today, I will highlight the critical role of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in supporting our community, the challenges we face and the actions required to address them.

First, it's essential to understand that the English-speaking community of Quebec is not a simple extension of Canada's English majority. We are a distinct and diverse cultural and linguistic community with unique needs. Despite our numbers, our representation in CBC's non-news programming remains limited, leaving many English-speaking Quebeckers feeling excluded from broader narratives.

Our community faces significant challenges, particularly when it comes to media access. There is a stark urban-rural divide. Urban areas, such as Montreal, traditionally benefited from diverse English-language media, but rural communities struggle with limited infrastructure, poor connectivity and a lack of locally relevant content. This disparity has created news deserts in certain areas, where residents are left without access to reliable information about their communities.

The rise of social media, while offering some opportunities, has introduced its own set of problems. Algorithms on these platforms prioritize content designed to engage, not to inform. This fosters echo chambers and reduces exposure to diverse perspectives, further isolating minority voices. Public broadcasters such as the CBC are uniquely positioned to counteract these trends by prioritizing inclusivity, diversity and nuanced reporting at the regional and local levels.

Public broadcasting plays an essential role in our democracy. The CBC network isn't just a broadcaster; it's an essential platform in promoting informed citizenship and inclusive discourse. Public broadcasters reinforce democracy by providing independent information, promoting pluralism and holding leaders accountable for their actions. To paraphrase political scientist Loïc Blondiaux, democracy isn't about voting; it's about the debate that precedes it. The CBC has always served as a forum in Canada, a public space for conducting informed debate and sharing values.

However, challenges arise when the CBC operates like a commercial broadcaster, focusing on ratings rather than its public mandate. Centralized programming decisions made in Toronto have often overlooked the needs and aspirations of English-speaking Quebeckers. This disconnect undermines CBC's potential to be a bridge between communities.

At this critical juncture, we must take decisive action to strengthen CBC's role as a public broadcaster. This includes refocusing the CBC to ensure that it is prioritizing resources to serve minority communities effectively; prioritizing local and regional content to see to it that CBC is producing and amplifying stories that reflect the diversity of English-speaking Quebec; investing in rural and remote community infrastructure to bridge the urban-rural divide by improving connectivity and access to localized talent and content; and fostering collaboration to build stronger partnerships between CBC and community organizations such as Y4Y—our youth group—the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network and, of course, QCGN.

In conclusion, CBC is more than just a broadcaster. It is a cornerstone of our cultural and democratic fabric. For the English-speaking community of Quebec, CBC is a lifeline, connecting isolated communities, amplifying minority voices and fostering informed citizenship.

Let us ensure that CBC continues to serve as an agora for all Canadians, a place where all voices are heard, stories are shared and debates shape our future.

Thank you.