Pandemic left CBC with no choice but to suspend local newscasts, leaders tell staff

By Greg O'Brien TORONTO – Facing a wave of criticism from within and without, CBC leadership attempted Friday to again explain why it was absolutely necessary to temporarily suspend English language local newscasts across the country while providing national coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. CBC staffers received three different pieces of correspondence Friday: from their CEO and head of English services; the general manager of news, current affairs and local; and the editor-in-chief of CBC News. The message was clear: Given the virus protections needed for staff and a never-before-seen demand on news resources, we really had no choice. CBC...