CBC could be facing a cut of up to five per cent or $56 million from its parliamentary appropriation in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the public broadcaster reports.

The CBC report states:

“The federal government has set a target of cutting expenses by five per cent under its strategic review of government departments and Crown corporations.

CBC president Hubert Lacroix told CBC employees on Friday that CBC/Radio-Canada has been asked to participate in the spending review.

Lacroix is to chair a steering committee that will look at CBC expenditures and try to determine which are lowest priority in relation to the CBC’s mandate.”

The review will take place over the next few weeks and recommendations will be made to the federal government for its 2010-11 budget.

Lacroix told employees:

“The strategic review process helps inform the annual budget planning process and in this context, results will not be known until the government’s budget is released, usually early in the new year.

“I’ll tell you what I can when I can. Hang in there.”

CBC announced 800 planned job cuts in March to meet a budget shortfall.