The Toronto Star ran two op-eds on Monday, one defending the CBC, the other saying let's keep the $987 million in our pockets.

Here's pro-CBC one:

Canada became what it is by developing institutions that promote our identity, says Richard Nimijean

And here's the anti one:

Were we not Canadians before the very appearance of the CBC in the 1930s, asks Jonathan Fortier

Fortier wrote:

Many would turn the radio dials looking for the subtle irony and off-beat humour of Jurgen Goth, the avuncular tones of figures like Alan Maitland, the wit of Michael Enright or the rhetorical flair and insight of Rex Murphy.

Try as I might, I can't think of any private sector equivalents in radio to those personalities -- not that there aren't some fine private-sector radio broadcasters. But I suspect those figures above are largely creations of the CBC.

He also said:

It would be a test of our initiative, of our pioneering spirit, of our commitment to diversity and tolerance and freedom — a test of our very identity as Canadians — to let the CBC go and replace it with voluntarily funded programs.

The problem with leaving everything up to the market -- that magical word that makes die-hard capitalists go all misty-eyed  and weak at the knees -- is that power within the marketplace is not equally distributed.

One good reason for having a public broadcaster is that it can act as a check and a balance against corporate power and tell some of the stories that the more market-driven operations don't find profitable enough. And at about $31.25 annually per Canadian, I don't see that as an onerous price to pay for that highly necessary function.

Perhaps Mr. Fortier could tell me which private radio broadcaster does a half-hour national and international news show at 6 p.m. followed by a 90-minute current affairs show.

Does he really think a private broadcaster will step into that role if the CBC is shut down? I highly suspect he's wrong.

After all, if private industry can always do it better, why isn't some enterprising radio broadcaster doing it now?