CBC to cancel New Year Eve’s broadcast due to ‘financial pressures’

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“Financial pressures” have led Canada’s public broadcaster to cancel this year’s countdown, CBC tells The Canadian Press.

The broadcast included performances from popular musicians across the country and a fireworks show.

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In its place, CBC will air a new “Just For Laughs” special. The program will be hosted by comedian Mae Martin at 11 p.m. in most markets and will be followed by episodes of “Comedy Night with Rick Mercer,” CP reports.

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The cancelling of the NYE broadcast is a notable change for CBC and there are indications of more changes to come in the future.

In a year-end interview with CP, Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said the time is now for the Liberal government to define what CBC should look like over the next year and decade.

“And I really want to achieve that before the next election, to make sure that our public broadcaster is (as) well-positioned as possible for the future,” St-Onge told CP.

When it comes to journalism, St-Onge said she would like the broadcaster’s new mandate to fill information gaps in local regions, include a strong online presence, invest in international reporting and ensure minority-language communities are supported, CP reports.

Beginning next year, the Canadian Heritage Department will put together a committee to find a new head of CBC who can lead the public broadcaster into its transformation, St-Onge told CP.

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