National

Trudeau says he's furious over Bell Media layoffs, calling it a 'garbage decision'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Feb, 2024 10:57 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trash-talking BCE Inc.'s widespread layoffs, calling the cuts a "garbage decision."

Trudeau says he's furious over Bell Media's decision to end multiple television newscasts and that the corporation should know better.

The outlet made program cuts Thursday after its parent company announced job reductions and the sale of 45 of its 103 regional radio stations.

Trudeau says large corporations have bought up radio stations, small community newspapers and local outlets, only to lay off journalists and change the quality of their offerings.

He says when readership and viewership then decline, corporations sell off outlets and say they're not profitable, eroding local journalism and Canada's democracy.

Chief executive Mirko Bibic says Bell Media's advertising revenues declined by $140 million in 2023 compared with the year before, and the company's news division is seeing more than $40 million in annual operating losses.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. posts $704 million budget surplus for 2022-2023, say audited public accounts

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy outlined the province's financial performance in the government's public accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. The government's budget forecasts have been on an up-and-down ride for the past two years, with the 2022-2023 budget originally forecast in February last year to show a $5.5 billion deficit, before that was revised to a surplus of almost $6 billion, then downgraded to a $3.6 billion surplus.

B.C. posts $704 million budget surplus for 2022-2023, say audited public accounts

Trudeau to visit Indonesia, Singapore and India next week as Canada seeks trade deals

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India. The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.

Trudeau to visit Indonesia, Singapore and India next week as Canada seeks trade deals

Wildfire threat in B.C. continues as winds pick up during stormy weather

Several major wildfires continue to burn out-of-control in British Columbia's Interior, where forecasted rain had been hoped to dampen blazes in parts of the Central Okanagan and the Shuswap. But Environment Canada data shows neither Kelowna's airport nor Salmon Arm recorded measurable precipitation Tuesday, after initial predictions called for possible rain and thunderstorms in the evening.

Wildfire threat in B.C. continues as winds pick up during stormy weather

Edmin Singh charged in Victoria arsons

Victoria police say the man was arrested on Sunday after a lengthy investigation by the force's major crimes section. They say 42-year-old Edwin Singh now faces four counts of arson in connection with four fires this summer, three of which occurred on Government Street in Victoria in June and July and one in Saanich in mid-August.

Edmin Singh charged in Victoria arsons

The grass that's greener in drought-stricken B.C. might have been painted

Lawn watering was prohibited in Metro Vancouver's 23 local authority regions on Aug. 4, with the ban in place until Oct.15. Some homeowners are looking for alternatives including spray-painting or artificial turf, but others are embracing the golden look.

The grass that's greener in drought-stricken B.C. might have been painted

Man dead in Revelstoke, IIO investigating

BC's police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who was shot by an officer in Revelstoke. R-C-M-P say it happened Sunday night after they responded to a call about a stolen vehicle.