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“We can have a conversation about the broadcaster being the link between Canadians from coast to coast to coast in English and French, but now we can have a conversation about economic value,” Lacroix told committee members when asked about “anticipating” funding cuts.

“When you affect the broadcaster, you affect — indirectly and directly — a whole bunch of people that we work with,” he warned.

Lacroix was called to the Canadian heritage committee to present the broadcaster’s five-year plan, which includes a vast expansion of its programming, online services and regional coverage across the country, but was questioned about how he’d handle steep funding cuts.

While the Tories promised that the CBC would be handed “maintain or increase” financial support, the broadcaster is now bracing for severe budget cuts of at least $100-million — or about 10% — of its annual allotment of about $1.1-billion.

“We’ve said many times we can’t be a public broadcaster without being deeply rooted in the regions. Will it change the way we deliver the services in the region? Perhaps. I don’t know what that means yet,” Lacroix said, later conceding that a slashed budget would “slow down” his overall plan.

But Tory MP John Williamson suggested some Canadian viewers won’t benefit from more coverage, noting that CBC News’ viewership has steadily declined compared to its competitors.

He pointed to CBC’s evening news show, The National, as an example. While Global and CTV have recorded audiences of more than one million people, CBC’s viewership has decreased to only half a million, Williamson said.