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(Ottawa) CBC/Radio-Canada’s decision to announce Monday the elimination of 600 jobs and the elimination of 200 job vacancies, or nearly 10% of its workforce, is “premature,” the federal government says.
Two government sources linked to different ministries used this word to describe the situation. The Canadian Press granted them anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Someone on the line says the ad is “a bit silly.” “She didn’t understand the exercise we were doing at all,” said President and CEO Catherine Tate.
This same source also confirms that “in addition” the $100 million agreement Google struck last week with Ottawa will allow CBC/Radio-Canada to generate revenue.
In announcing the $125 million in cuts, the broadcaster’s senior management said it took into account that its overall funding would fall by 3 per cent, or roughly the savings Ottawa said it was aiming to achieve in its last budget.
“We have received directives like all ministries and state institutions. The number is within our expectations,” confirmed M.I Tate in the interview.
However, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St. Onge appears to be doubling down on signals since the beginning of the week regarding the idea that CBC/Radio-Canada could be exempt, or even partially, from federal budget efforts.
“We see. This is something that cannot be implemented without taking into account the effects that it may have. She announced again on Tuesday upon her arrival at the Cabinet meeting, that the decision has not been taken yet.
But behind the scenes, we don’t beat around the bush. “Our saying was: Send us an offer, we will evaluate it, and then we will tell you whether we accept it or not.” “Then everyone does it, except Radio-Canada which doesn’t seem to understand,” sighs a source.
The other source also insists that “they (CBC/Radio-Canada) have no actual indication that the exercise will apply to them.”
If the public broadcaster is exempt from the budget process, the number of job losses may be less significant, according to the head of CBC/Radio-Canada.
The Canadian Radio Workers Union, which is affiliated with CSN, calculates that a 3% cut in spending represents about $38 million a year.
We also note that the 60 million is actually related to 800 job cuts since 25 million of the savings come from discretionary spending and 40 million from independent production.
The direction of CBC/Radio-Canada is indicative in a contract that the “3.3%” compressions that are “demanded by the federal government” représentent 11 million from the promotion and that the grimpera is available in 38 million. Three years.
In the office of Treasury Board President Anita Anand, it was explained that the government is seeking “on average” a “refocus” of 3% per department.
Spokesman MI Anand, Ronnie’s stalwart, said the Treasury Board did not have jurisdiction over Crown corporations, but rather over the departments that reported to it.
As CBC/Radio-Canada explained to the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, “Heritage Corporation will have to consult with all Crown corporations to determine who puts what into the practice.”
Both the Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party (NDP) indicated Tuesday they believe the public broadcaster should be exempt from the 3% cuts.
Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet declared: “I am not a supporter of cuts or financial restrictions at Radio-Canada, especially in a context of crises.” There is no doubt that the state refuses to delegate basic information, particularly in the regions, and largely in French, to Radio-Canada. »
Furthermore, Mr. Blanchet asks the state-owned company to immediately suspend “any program or any attempt to reduce positions” and for its CEO to appear before a parliamentary committee.
New Democrat Canadian Heritage critic Peter Julian said the exemption means CBC/Radio-Canada must invest in local news. He believes that bonuses for senior executives have no place in the context of cuts, something that CEO Catherine Tait did not abandon in an interview that was widely published on social networks.
NDP Deputy Leader Alexandre Boulerice added that his party supports creating an emergency fund to “save furniture.” He then attacked her, accusing the minister of “turning a blind eye” to the cuts, which contradicts her statements when she was a union leader in the communications sector.
In the Conservative Party of Canada, whose leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to stop funding the CBC if he becomes prime minister, a party spokesman announced that the party always intends to protect Radio-Canada, the French public broadcasting service.
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