White Paper: Thinking about Program Review
Program review is an idea whose time has come again. Initiated in 1994–95 by the Chrétien government, program review was re-launched by the Harper government in 2011 in an effort to balance the federal budget.
Let’s apply the six tests of program review developed under the Chrétien government to the role of two Crown corporations: the CBC and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). These two are especially relevant. AECL is interesting because the Harper government privatized this institution as of June 2011, selling the corporation to SNC-Lavalin. And the CBC is pertinent because critics of the Harper government long feared that a Conservative majority government would move against the public broadcaster, possibly going as far as privatizing it. How would a future Conservative government think about such a review of these two institutions?
The tests are as follows:
1. The public interest test asks if the program area or activity continues to serve a public interest.
CBC
Hard-line Conservatives would probably say that the CBC serves no public interest and that private television and radio broadcasters can and should fill its programming role. But more moderate Conservatives might be swayed by the argument that the CBC provides uniquely Canadian content in news, public affairs, drama, and cultural programming. These voices of moderation might also be influenced by the strong public support that the CBC continues to possess across the country.
AECL
The AECL served no necessary public interest by the first decade of the twenty-first century. The development of CANDU nuclear reactor technology had long been achieved and the company had demonstrated its ability to engage in international commercial activity. Privatization could be legitimately seen as a means to enhance its international competitiveness by providing new entrepreneurial ownership, through SNC-Lavalin.
2. The role of government test asks if the government has a legitimate and necessary role in the activity.
CBC
Again, hard-line Conservatives would say no, asserting that the private sector should fill the programming role played by the CBC. More moderate voices would argue that the role of the CBC in supporting Canadian culture cannot be fully replicated by private sector broadcasters.
AECL
The government no longer has a legitimate role in owning and managing a nuclear reactor producer. Such a role can more readily and profitably be undertaken by a private sector owner.
3. The federalism test asks whether the activity is a better candidate for provincial jurisdiction.
CBC
While some provinces, notably Ontario and Quebec, can and do own and maintain a public broadcaster (TVO in Ontario, for example), most cannot afford to maintain such a service, especially have-not provinces. The relegation of the CBC to various provincial jurisdictions would also destroy it as a national broadcaster.
AECL
No province could afford to own or maintain a provincial version of the AECL.
4. The partnership test asks whether the activity can be transferred in whole or in part to the private or voluntary sectors.
CBC
Conservative hard-liners would say yes, for the reasons given above. Moderates may think greater partnerships with private film, TV, and radio programming producers could be beneficial, allowing the CBC to contract out to the private sector significant parts of its production work.
AECL
Yes, and the point has already been proven.
