Ukrainian Section No More at RCI

March 25, 2009 (Montreal) -- The Ukrainian Section at Radio Canada International (RCI) was cut.

The surprise announcement was made this afternoon to the 2-member personnel of the section.

The half-hour program was aired Saturdays and Sundays since it was cut in half in November 2004, after over 50 years of broadcasting on a daily basis.

Even though the press in Ukraine appears relatively free, the same cannot be said of its big neighbour next door. The International Press Institute (IPI) has included the Russian Federation on its Watch List.

Ukrainian territorial integrity has been threatened by the Russian leadership in the recent past. One should question the wisdom in pulling the plug on a service that gives a bird's eye view of a thriving democracy.

Canada offers a beacon of hope to the millions of Ukrainians who have wrestled with the Russian and Soviet Empires and have declared its independence on 5 separate occasions during the 20th century.

Canada was even the first western nation to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991.

If Canadians (especially of Ukrainian descent) do not wish that this important provider of balanced information to Ukrainians in Ukraine cease, then a public outcry is in order.

After 57 years, the final Ukrainian-language broadcast at RCI is slated for this Saturday-Sunday, March 28-29, 2009.

Feel free to listen to the archived programs at http://www.rcinet.ca/

Note: Below is the CBC report, which was aired today, March 25, 2009:

Margo Kelly reports:
CBC News, Toronto
March 25, 2009

Canada's national public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is cutting 800 full-time jobs in a bid to balance its budget.

The president of the CBC Hubert Lacroix told employees today that the network is facing a budget shortfall of 171-Million dollars.

He also said he had been unsuccessful at convincing the federal government to give it an advance to deal with the situation.

Mr. Lacroix says the network will cut 400 jobs at the CBC, about 330 at the French-speaking Radio-canada and another 70 corporate positions.

The network is also offering voluntary retirement packages.

The budget cuts will also affect Radio Canada International which is part of the CBC.

It has already been announced that the Ukrainian language section will cease broadcasting this weekend after 57 years.

Other television networks in Canada such as Canwest Global and CTV recently laid off employees and even closing down or selling off stations.

Today top officials with Canada's broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-Television and Communications Commission, or CRTC, will appear before the Heritage Committee to talk about possible solutions.