Jim and I are on this cross-country drive from Ontario to the coast of British Columbia—a journey we’ve done before, sometimes venturing all the way from central Ontario to the Maritimes, then west across the Prairies to the Pacific, before looping back home. These road trips have become more than vacations; they’re full-on immersions in the vastness, diversity, and character of this country.
And through every leg of every journey, CBC Radio has been our constant companion. Whether we’re winding through the Laurentians, crossing the windswept plains of Saskatchewan, or navigating the coastal highways of Vancouver Island, there’s always a familiar voice on the airwaves. News, weather, music, local culture, and thoughtful storytelling—all tailored to the region we’re in, yet bound by a shared national thread. It’s a presence that makes Canada feel connected, coherent, and deeply human, even when you’re hundreds of kilometers from the nearest major city.
Anyone entertaining the idea of cutting funding to CBC should be required to take a cross-country trip like ours. It’s only then you realize what a lifeline public broadcasting truly is—especially outside the urban core. In remote communities, small towns, and places that commercial networks often overlook, CBC is still there. It tells local stories. It uplifts Indigenous voices. It broadcasts emergency alerts when needed and provides context, not just headlines, on national events. It fosters a sense of belonging, from province to province, coast to coast to coast.
Public broadcasting isn’t just a service; it’s a national glue. It ensures that Canadians hear not only about each other but from each other. In a country as vast and varied as ours, that connection isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. Defunding or diminishing CBC would mean cutting away at one of the few truly national institutions that reaches into every corner of the country with the goal of informing, educating, and uniting.
So if you’re thinking about slashing the CBC’s budget, I have a suggestion: take a road trip across Canada with nothing but the radio for company. You’ll come back with a new appreciation—for the land, the people, and the public broadcaster that ties us together.
Dale Hajas
Huntsville
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