TORONTO and OTTAWA – CTV has laid off at least 24 employees at its ‘Canada AM’ morning show, and cut its last early morning local newscast in the country.
Sources say that the broadcaster was laying off Canada AM staff members who produce local news segments exclusively for single-markets, rather than on the show’s national broadcast. The job cuts will impact operations across the country, with the exception of the Toronto and Halifax studios.
Responding to the move, Canada’s largest media union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), called on Heritage Minister James Moore to step in and “demand that local news and information remain a cornerstone of the Canadian broadcasting system.”
"Canadians need news and information, especially in times like these,” said Peter Murdoch, CEP’s vice president of media, in a statement. “Parliament must ensure that licensed broadcasters provide this elemental ingredient of our democratic system, especially if CTV willingly spends millions on U.S. programming but cuts service to Canada’s local communities.”
"Private broadcasters must serve their shareholders – but Canadians are the real stakeholders in our broadcasting system,” he continued. “The CRTC must serve their interests first and if necessary, the Minister should issue a direction to the CRTC to do just that."
