Television and film executive Catherine Tait on Tuesday became the first woman to lead Canada's public broadcaster, promising to tell more local stories about women, indigenous and LGBT people, and immigrants. Tait, 60, said she would also boost digital access to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) content anywhere and anytime. The broadcaster already reaches Canadians in French and English through television, radio, and online.
"In order for public broadcasters to survive and to flourish, we must focus on the services, news and programming that most connect with our public, not just as one audience, but as many audiences," Tait said.
"This is, after all, the power of digital," she said.
"We also need to reach deep into our shared culture for indigenous peoples to tell their own stories, to tell the stories of the many struggles and triumphs of new Canadians, of women and of the LGBTQ community. "By being inclusive storytellers, we enrich our collective experience as Canadians and as citizens."
Heritage Minister Melanie Joly introduced Tait to reporters outside parliament, calling her a "champion for Canadian content" during her nearly 30 years in the film and television business.