‘I’m pretty pissed off’: Trudeau reacts to Bell Media layoffs

He’s calling the cuts a “garbage decision” by a corporation that “should know better.”

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.

Heritage Minister, Pascale St. Onge yesterday said Bell broke a promise of investment after it received 40-million dollars in annual regulatory relief. The same amount the company says its news division is losing annually.

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Despite bringing in millions in profit and will benefit from additional payout for the Online News Act. Bell Media pointed the finger back at Ottawa and the broadcast regulator, saying they took too long to provide support.

VIDEO: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is furious at BCE’s decision to layoff 4,800 workers and sell off almost half of its regional radio stations.

Prime Minister Trudeau says Bell Media’s decision was bad for local journalism and democracy.

“We’ve seen over the past few years, journalistic outlets, community newspapers, radio stations, bought up by corporate entities….who go and layoff journalists, then change the offering to audiences, because when people don’t watch or engage as much, the corporation says nobody is watching, so will sell them off.” He says, “we’re trying to support journalism in this country, across this country, but no government can do it alone, Canadians need to step in and demand better as we will demand better.”

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