Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his anger and disapproval of Bell Media’s decision to lay off hundreds of journalists on Friday, calling it a “garbage decision” during a press conference in Ottawa on February 9th.
Trudeau emphasized the importance of local voices and criticized corporate Canada for neglecting their responsibilities to the communities they profit from over the years.
Bell Media announced on Thursday that it would be terminating several television newscasts and implementing other programming cuts following the parent company’s decision to reduce 4,800 jobs and sell 45 of its 103 regional radio stations.
Local media reported that Bell Media’s advertising revenues decreased by 140 million Canadian dollars (104 million U.S. dollars) in 2023 compared to the previous year.
