CBC withholds Eurovision cost details, government barred from ordering participation

CBC/Radio-Canada says it will not disclose how much participating in the Eurovision Song Contest will cost, citing the Broadcasting Act, which guarantees its independence and prevents the federal government from directing the broadcaster to take part. A government memo obtained through access‑to‑information requests indicates that costs for other countries in 2025 ranged from about $400,000 for Portugal to $1.5 million for Israel.

The 2025 federal budget noted the government would work with CBC to explore participation, and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will compete in the 2027 contest. CBC says the decision to enter and the selection process are solely its own responsibility, with further details to be released later this year.