(Ottawa) A Commons committee summons the head of Bell Canada on April 11 to explain the company’s decision to cut thousands of jobs across the country.
Bell President and CEO Mirko Bibic was first invited to appear before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on February 29 and then on March 19, but MPs say he was unable to attend until ‘now.
Last week, in a closed-door meeting, the Commons committee agreed to summon Mr. Bibic on April 11, this time, to answer questions and explain the job cuts.
When a witness refuses an invitation to appear in Ottawa, a Commons committee can compel him with a subpoena.
Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), the parent company of Bell Media, announced in February that it was reducing its workforce by 4,800 positions, including the termination of several television newscasts and the sale of 45 of its 103 radio stations across the country. , including seven in the regions of Quebec.
The company blamed the federal government and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for the cuts. BCE says Ottawa took too long to help media companies in crisis.