The CBC modernization panel has been named. Here’s who’s on it

Seven multimedia experts have been selected to advise Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge as she renews the role of Canada’s public broadcaster.

The group will provide policy advice mainly on CBC/Radio-Canada’s governance and funding, Canadian Heritage said.

The department notes that consultations on the CBC’s mandate have already been done with the general public.

The newly appointed advisory panel will now help St-Onge chart a path forward, with members contributing knowledge from a variety of fields.

St-Onge said committee members have diverse perspectives and experiences that will help her modernize CBC and its French-language arm, Radio-Canada.

“Canadians need a strong, innovative and independent public broadcaster that is ready to meet the challenges of this period of transformation and upheaval in news and content creation,” St-Onge said in a statement Monday.

The panel will help her promote Canadian culture, stories, languages, artists and creators, “while adapting to our rapidly changing broadcast and digital landscape,” she added.

The panel includes:

CBC president Catherine Tait has been calling for a long-term financial structure for the public broadcaster, such as a multi-year funding agreement through a charter, similar to the BBC in Britain.

The minister’s office has previously said it is “open to all ideas” as part of the process.

During a recent appearance at a House of Commons committee, Tait said she’s looking forward to conversing with the panel.

“Sustainable long-term funding is one of the solutions” to combatting the “crisis” media face, Tait said. She pointed to challenges such as competition from foreign tech giants who aren’t subjected to the same regulations as Canadian broadcasters, and a decline in revenue