The CBC has been around for 82 years (1935) since Conservative PM RB Bennett launched CBC radio to connect this vast country in which many regions still had no radio service at all.   The case for a national broadcaster was obvious - in 1935.

In 1952, CBC TV was launched and was the only TV network until upstart CTV came along  about 1961.  The case for CBC TV was obvious - in 1952.

Then and now, the CBC as a government welfare recipient was fat, lazy and self indulgent compared with private broadcasters.  

I saw this in 1963 when I was in the cast of a musical at Dalhousie University and we did promo numbers on both networks.  On CTV it was live, one take, and 2 staffers, announcer and cameraman.  CBC taped our numbers twice with a staff of at least 6. 

Bernier is right - the CBC should be pared down to a news only network, saving taxpayer dollars and freeing up ad revenues for the beleaguered private outlets.

Let's not repeat the blatant bribing of the CBC as in 2015.