The other day, I posted in the Canada Writes Facebook group—run by CBC Books—about something that’s been on my mind lately: the proposed defunding of the CBC, a political promise of Pierre Poilievre.
It’s interesting, and relevant to us as writers, that defunding the CBC is a political promise of Pierre Poilievre. I read today through Arlene Dickinson that the CBC costs, on average, 33 dollars PER YEAR per person. Considering I spend more than 33 dollars a month on streaming services, on writing workshops, on books, on other sources of entertainment, 33 a year seems like a ridiculous amount of money to base a campaign on.
For us as writers, the CBC, among so many other things, runs this page where many of us have found readers for our books, friends who beta read for us, writers we love, whose works we now cherish. Personally, I credit the CBC and the contest for inspiring me to build my skills, to work on my stories, to learn about revising and honing, to find ways to showcase my own voice in my writing.
I’ve heard of conferences through posts in this group where I’ve gone – conferences which changed my life – including the one where I met my agent. I wouldn’t have known about that conference if I hadn’t seen someone post about it in this group.
I found the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society because of a post in this group, years ago, about their Writer in Residence program. I’ve since taught countless classes for them and have become a regular instructor which is one of the reasons I was able to quit my day job.
I found the publisher (Hi Off Topic Publishing) of my last novella-in-flash through this group. They are also publishing my next flash fiction collection. I found a connection with Storybilder here – a writing platform run by an incredible woman with whom I often nerd out about craft of writing, and for whom I write blogs for emerging writers.
Beyond that, I’ve met some of the great loves of my life in this group. People who bolster me, who share my work. People whose work I share and celebrate. People I’ve gone on retreat with, shared the sting of rejection with.
So, yes. Funding the CBC is important because of access to news and programs and Murdock Mysteries and that adorable show with the guy who plays George on Murdock. And for a million other reasons, but the most important reason is for 33 dollars a year, I have met the group of people who make me a better person, a better writer. Just better.
Thirty-three dollars a year gave me a writing life. I can’t imagine voting against that.
Finnian Burnett 