Where we're at

CMG and CBC Management have apparently knocked out knocked out a few more minor issues at the table. Unfortunately there seems to be little progress on the major issues of contracting out, and perma-temp jobs. Until there is progress on these issues, there really isn't progress. The rest, I believe, could have been resolved without a work stoppage.

It is also now evident, to me at least, that there is no event which will cause management to back down. Hurricane Katrina has come and gone, the Terry Fox 25th Anniversary has come and gone, CBC has decided not to cover the Governor General's nomination, the fall season has launched, and it appears unlikely that hockey will start without workers in the building. I no longer believe that even an election or the Olympics will end this.

Upper management evidently does not understand public broadcasting in general, and therefore do not understand it's mandate. They appear willing to allow the CBC to die a quick brutal death if they are not allowed to proceed with their plans to kill it slowly.

So, what do we (meaning both CMG and the supporters of public broadcasting) do about it ? Well, I'm only one person and this is only my opinion but first, focus on those who can do something about it. Namely Parliament since they ultimately control the purse strings and the very existence of the CBC, the CBC's Board of Directors since they are responsible for hiring or removing management and will, should the CBC fail, be ultimately responsible and Rabinovich's inner circle. These are the people who can actually do something, they are the only ones worth fighting.

Those of you who are spending your time taking pot shots at others are not really helping anything. Most middle managers, and generally those outside the inner circle may not agree with CMG about everything, but I believe that most of them do not support Rabinovich's plan to kill the CBC either. Most of them, from what I've gathered and heard from them directly do understand and believe in public broadcasting and the people who make public broadcasting happen.

The other thing that I think needs to start happening is: We need to start at least contemplating revenue streams and names without CBC references for webcasting, online news and other projects. It's possible that without some kind of intervention that the "CBC" or at least a national public broadcaster in some form will have to be rebuilt without the buildings and without the CBC's other current assets and revenue.

Is this all very pessimistic? Yes. Is it realistic? Who knows, maybe it's just my mood today. But, I believe it's time to add 'hope for the best, plan for the worst' to the playbook.