MPs, Bell CEO butt heads over job cuts at panel meeting

OTTAWA • As members of Parliament accuse Bell Canada of corporate greed, the head of the company is defending its decision to cut thousands of jobs, citing a shift in viewing habits away from traditional TV.

Liberals, Conservatives and New Democrats grilled BCE Inc. chief executive Mirko Bibic during often combative exchanges at a meeting of the House of Commons heritage committee on Thursday afternoon.

Lawmakers had ordered him to appear and answer for the cuts, which affect nine per cent of BCE’S workforce.

In February, the company announced it was cutting some 4,800 jobs, ending multiple TV newscasts and selling off 45 radio stations.

“The idea you saw fit to take substantial bonuses and equity packages at a time your workers, employees and journalists could have had their jobs saved is a bit disappointing,” Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed told Bibic.

Conservative heritage critic Rachael Thomas said it’s “really rich” for a company worth $40 billion that received government subsidies to lay off its workers.

She accused Bibic of evading her questions, saying it made the CEO look “shady.”

Several MPS flung colourfully worded accusations at Bibic, including NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who appeared briefly to scold the CEO for “choosing greed” over giving consumers “a break” on cellphone fees.

Bibic defended his company, blaming factors such as productivity, inflation and delays in the implementation of the federal Online Streaming Act — a new law meant to level the playing field between traditional broadcasters and streaming companies, under which Bell is benefiting from significant regulatory relief.

“The industry is in flux due to technological disruption, changing viewer habits, shifting advertiser demand and vigorous competition from foreign web giants who are not subject to the same costly regulations as Canadian broadcasters,” Bibic said.