Like many of us in a nonstop news era, I watch a lot of news. Lately, though, I’ve noticed something puzzling: why does the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) give so much attention to American stories?
The CBC is Canada’s national public broadcaster, funded largely by taxpayers. Its flagship evening newscast, The National, often opens with U.S. headlines. On one evening in late September, the top three stories were all about U.S. developments: the U.S. president’s UN speech, his shifting stance on the war in Ukraine, and the return of a U.S. late-night show host. Meanwhile, significant events abroad that night—drone sightings closing airports in Scandinavia, deadly strikes in Gaza, mass protests in Italy, several European recognitions of a Palestinian state, a deadly typhoon in Taiwan, and an International Criminal Court indictment—did not receive the same prominence. Canadian stories that mattered that day—TikTok reforms after privacy investigations, a looming cull of ostriches on BC farms because of avian flu, and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s UN schedule including talks with China’s premier over trade—were relegated behind U.S. coverage.
This tilt isn’t limited to headline choices. The National’s closing “our moment” segment—meant to be a small, uplifting story that leaves viewers with something resonant—has often highlighted quirky or sentimental events in the United States: a French prime minister stuck in New York traffic, NASA equipment landing in Texas, a baseball fan in Seattle catching a home run ball. When CBC labels these “our moments,” it begs the question: whose moment is this?
There are several possible explanations. Maybe CBC editors think audiences find American stories more engaging. Maybe they believe every U.S. development is inherently consequential to Canada. Or perhaps there’s an unconscious cultural reflex to treat U.S. news as default national news. But the skew feels out of step with current public sentiment and strategic need. Relations with the United States are strained in parts: trade negotiations are fraught, and many Canadians have grown wary of an administration that has repeatedly made rhetoric that some perceive as threatening to Canadian sovereignty. Polling has shown Canadians’ opinions of the U.S. and its leadership at historic lows, with a sizable share viewing the U.S. as a top threat.
If the CBC’s role is to serve Canadian democracy and national identity, it should reflect Canadian priorities and anxieties more clearly. That doesn’t mean ignoring the United States. Canada must understand American politics and policy because of proximity, economic integration, and geopolitical consequences. But a constant stream of American human-interest pieces and top-billing U.S. headlines can crowd out coverage of domestic policy, regional diplomacy, and other international stories that matter to Canadians’ lives and long-term interests.
Coverage matters not just for information but for shaping how a nation thinks about itself. A public broadcaster has a particular duty to cultivate independent thinking, reinforce national identity, and help citizens assess foreign influence and risk. If the CBC treats American perspectives as default and gives them disproportionate space, it risks eroding the very sense of Canadian distinctiveness that a national broadcaster should help sustain.
What should CBC do differently?
– Prioritize Canadian stories and place them prominently. Important domestic news—political decisions, economic policy, public-health issues, environmental crises, Indigenous affairs, and trade negotiations—should lead the broadcast when they are consequential to Canadians.
– Broaden international coverage beyond predictable U.S.-centric angles. The world is not only the United States and its backyard. Newsrooms should cover developments in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and multilateral institutions with context that helps Canadians understand implications for Canada.
– When reporting U.S. news, explain its relevance to Canada. Don’t assume that every American anecdote matters here. Provide context: how a U.S. policy or political shift affects trade, security, cross-border relations, or Canadians living or working in the United States.
– Reclaim “our moment.” If the closing story is billed as “our moment,” make it distinctly Canadian—stories that reflect Canadian communities, values, innovations, struggles and triumphs.
– Foster a healthier cultural and mental separation from U.S. narratives. Economic and strategic distancing is complex and gradual, but cultural independence begins with what a public broadcaster highlights every evening.
A public broadcaster’s editorial judgments shape national conversation. In times when sovereignty, trade, and international alignment are contested and when many Canadians feel uneasy about the United States, CBC’s editorial choices should help citizens prioritize Canadian perspectives and resilience. It’s reasonable—and necessary—for Canadians to know what the U.S. is doing. But it’s equally necessary for CBC to remind us, daily and deliberately, who “we” are and what matters most to Canadians.
