In his upcoming book, "The CBC: How Canada’s Public Broadcaster Lost Its Voice (And How to Get It Back)," veteran producer and broadcaster David Cayley explores the decline of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Set to be released on September 16, 2025, by Sutherland House Books, the book reflects on Cayley’s more than 40 years with the institution. He argues that the CBC has strayed from its mission to represent all Canadians, instead retreating into ideological echo chambers.

Cayley highlights the CBC's response to the 2022 Freedom Convoy as a pivotal moment that showcased its inability to engage with diverse political perspectives. Historically, the CBC viewed its audience as a unified community with shared interests. In the 1960s, producers like Patrick Watson were taught to consider how each program would serve the audience, assuming a coherent public that, while sometimes divided, shared a common civic space. However, Cayley asserts that this assumption has disintegrated, leading to significant fragmentation within Canadian society.

The emergence of the Freedom Convoy in February 2022, which protested against vaccine mandates, illustrated this division. Cayley describes the convoy as a manifestation of a vibrant new public, evidenced by the substantial turnout and the risks taken by participants to travel to Ottawa in winter. However, upon arrival, the convoy was not recognized as a legitimate public movement. Instead, it was characterized as a threat to national security. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeled the protesters as "often racists" and "misogynists" who "don’t believe in science."

Cayley criticizes the CBC's coverage during this time, noting that its flagship newscast, "The National," chose to interview a trucker opposed to the convoy rather than one of its supporters. He argues that the CBC failed to acknowledge the protest as a significant political event deserving of thorough examination. Instead, the network framed the convoy as a byproduct of misinformation and a public safety issue.

This approach, according to Cayley, indicates that the CBC only engages with groups it deems acceptable, neglecting its statutory obligation to address the growing polarization of opinions in Canada. He points out that many contemporary issues, like vaccine mandates, reflect deep cultural divides rather than mere disagreements over facts. These divisions have been exacerbated by cultural shifts since the 1960s and the influence of social media algorithms, leading to a collision of worldviews.

Cayley’s analysis raises critical questions about the role of public broadcasting in a fragmented society and its responsibility to represent all voices, particularly those that challenge the status quo.