Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Recently the federal government announced more cuts and reductions to the CBC.

Mr. Speaker, the CBC radio and TV service is the only one available in many of our smaller communities. These services have help sustain and enrich the usage of native languages. Unlike southern jurisdictions where there are competing private radio and tv stations, thus any reduction to local programming by CBC would not be felt as hard. However in Nunavut and most of the western arctic, this is not the case. People rely on the CBC to provide the only outlet for local news, weather and native language programming.

Any reduction to these services would have a drastic effect on our people. The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation, has struggled, for the past few years, on less and less funding. Reductions to CBC native programming would compound the problem.

Many times we have said that our situation in the north, is unique. In the case of radio and television services, it is and can be dramatically demonstrated. CBC radio is a lifeline for the residents of Nunavut. We do not have the luxury of competing private stations. This government has to realize this and take it in account.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister responsible and the Premier to lobby on behalf of the CBC Northern Service immediately and will question the Minister later today on this topic.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.