Do you support CBC Northeast Radio?

File Photo.

The North Bay petition to support keeping CBC Northeast Radio as a strong regional public broadcaster will be available at the North Bay Waterfront and Northgate Shopping Center this week for signatures.

A number of local volunteers have been circulating the petition in support of maintaining the regional radio broadcaster in the face of proposed budget cuts by Toronto head office, who in turn are under pressure from lack of budget support at the Federal level. The petition request is that interim bridge financing be extended to the Crown Corporation until a commitment to longer term and stable funding can be discussed. The petition itself will likely will be raised in Question Period later this month by Nipissing Temiskaming MP Anthony Rota who has already publicly expressed his support for the service at a major rally in Sudbury earlier in April.

A motion recently brought forward by City Councillors Chris Mayne and Mac Bain was passed by City Council in support of a strong Northern Ontario media.

"This is a public broadcast service that brings Northern Ontarians together with a shared sense of identity; it keeps us informed of regional issues that a southern Ontario service simply will not do,” said Mayne.

“They have been mandated to cover an area larger than some countries and are now facing dramatic service reducing cutbacks - and this is simply unacceptable to many who appreciate the service CBC Northeast radio provides."

The petition will available for signature between 9:30 a.m. and noon just beside the Rotary picnic shelter, this Saturday May 2 at the waterfront. It will also be available for signing all weekend at Mayne Travel's Northgate Shopping Center location.

For more information on the petition in support of CBC radio you an also go to www.savecbcnorth.com and sign up online.