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

Joly urges more funding to hire Canadian diplomats, amid Liberal cutbacks on spending

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is asking MPs to support more funding for Global Affairs Canada, despite the Liberals undertaking cutbacks across the government. Joly says that the United States, France and rapidly developing countries are staffing up to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

Joly urges more funding to hire Canadian diplomats, amid Liberal cutbacks on spending

Global Affairs Canada 'aware of reports' of missing Canadian in Gaza Strip

Ottawa says it is aware of reports that another Canadian citizen has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. Global Affairs Canada says it is providing consular assistance to the family but can't share more because of privacy considerations.

Global Affairs Canada 'aware of reports' of missing Canadian in Gaza Strip

Tobacco firm 'disappointed' in B.C. restriction on flavoured nicotine pouch sales

A major Canadian tobacco company says it is "extremely disappointed" by British Columbia's decision to move the sale of flavoured nicotine pouches behind pharmacy counters. Premier David Eby announced the restriction on Wednesday, saying the province issued the order to prevent children coming into contact with a "hazardous" and "addictive" product while Health Canada looks into the regulation of sales.

Tobacco firm 'disappointed' in B.C. restriction on flavoured nicotine pouch sales

Bell media is slashing 4800 jobs across the country

A Bell executive is linking the major cuts parent company B-C-E announced this morning to federal government policies. Robert Malcolmson says the company needs immediate relief, which could come from a fund it has proposed that would see streamers subsidize local or national news.

Bell media is slashing 4800 jobs across the country

When the sun goes down, a swarm of rats emerges in downtown Vancouver

When the sun goes down, the rats of Vancouver's Burrard Skytrain Station emerge, in a scurrying blur of fur and whipping tails. Dozens of them, large and small, scamper around a park in front of the downtown station, running up and down the stairs among the legs of commuters and a wary reporter. Some appear to be feasting on birdseed scattered on the ground.

When the sun goes down, a swarm of rats emerges in downtown Vancouver

PM hints at tougher penalties for car thieves as feds seek ideas at national summit

The Liberal government will consider tougher criminal penalties for people who steal vehicles, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday as he kicked off a daylong summit aimed at confronting the scourge of auto theft.