CBC HALTS JOB CUTS AFTER $42M BOOST FROM OTTAWA
PUBLIC BROADCASTER CALLS IT `GOOD NEWS FOR CANADIANS'
CBc/radio-canada is not fully committing to pausing layoffs after Tuesday's federal budget allotted the public broadcaster a $42-million funding injection, although it admits that the new money will mean no “significant additional reductions this year.”
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's budget includes a one-time payment of $42 million for the broadcaster — in addition to its $1.4 billion annual budget for 2024-2025 — after the CBC warned it would cut hundreds of jobs because of a predicted financial shortfall this year.
In a statement, CBC/ Radio-canada said the extra money in the budget is a “welcome investment in public service media at a critical time” and “will help the Corporation manage its financial challenges in a more stable manner.”
“This is welcome news. This investment, together with the steps we have taken since December, means we will be able to stabilize our operations, preserve jobs, and continue to invest in programs and services,” said network president and CEO Catherine Tait.
“That is good news for Canadians, who continue to depend on their public broadcaster for trusted news and information, and great Canadian programming like the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games,” she added.
Tait notably refused to rule out executive bonuses — which added up to $15 million last year — despite the broadcaster having announced in December it would cut 800 jobs and $40 million from its production budget because of a $125-million projected shortfall.
At the time, CBC/ Radio-canada explained that the proposed cuts were partly in reaction to the Treasury Board of Canada's announcement that it was looking to find 3.3 per cent in savings within all government departments, agencies and Crown corporations.
The federal government has since clarified that the 3.3 per cent directive would not apply to the public broadcaster and that it would receive more funds than the previous year.
Cbc/radio-canada has also blamed declining advertising revenues for its budget shortfall, a situation is affecting the entire media industry and that has at least one media executive wondering why the broadcaster is getting preferential treatment.
Québecor president and CEO Pierre-karl Péladeau wrote in French on X that, in a spirit of fairness, it is “more than time” that the CRTC ban advertising on CBC/ Radio-canada's platforms to ensure the “survival” of private television in the longterm.
Québecor cut 500 jobs in Groupe TVA just last fall because of declining advertising.
Heritage Minister Pascale St-onge said that she recognizes the hardships of the public broadcaster and indeed all private companies in the media sector, as more and more advertisement money that used to go to them is instead redirected to web giants.
St-onge added that the extra money given to CBC/ Radio-canada was meant not only to limit the number of job losses but buy some time to review its structure and mandate.
“It gives us also time this year to talk about the financial structure, the financial governance and the mission and mandate of CBC/ Radio-canada, because we want a strong public broadcaster for decades to come, so we have work to do,” she said.
“At the same time, we want to make sure that they're capable of giving the services that they're supposed to give the Canadian population from coast to coast.”
Cbc/radio-canada has cut some jobs since December.
TODAY'S NEW FUNDING MEANS THE (CBC) CAN ADDRESS ITS REMAINING FORECAST SHORTFALL ...
To date, it has “reduced its workforce” by 141 employees and cut 205 vacant positions for a total of 346 cuts.
“Together with improvements in the corporation's overall financial position, today's new funding means the corporation can address its remaining forecast shortfall and balance its budget without significant additional reductions this year,” read Tuesday's statement.
A spokesperson for CBC/ Radio-canada would not say if there would be further job losses.
“We will update our financial plans based on the information now available to us. We don't have anything further to announce at this time,” said Leon Mar in an email.
Tuesday's budget also announced $58.8 million over three years to fund the Local Journalism Initiative and $15 million over two years to support public interest programming services such as Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.