The decision of CBC / Radio-Canada to announce on Monday the elimination of 600 jobs and the abolition of 200 vacant positions, or nearly 10% of its workforce, is “premature”, the federal government judges.
Two government sources associated with different ministries used the word to describe the situation. The Canadian Press granted them anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The ad is “a little ridiculous,” says one of them on the line. And the president and CEO, Catherine Tait, “she did not understand the exercise we are doing at all”.
This same source also emphasizes that “in addition” the $100 million agreement with Google concluded last week with Ottawa will allow CBC / Radio-Canada to generate revenue.
In announcing its $125 million cuts, the broadcaster’s senior management said it took into account that its public funding would be cut by 3%, or approximately the savings that Ottawa said it was aiming for in its last budget.
“We received directives like all ministries and state corporations. The figure is in our forecasts,” confirmed M.me Tait in interview.
However, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, seems to be multiplying the signals since the beginning of the week regarding the idea that CBC / Radio-Canada could be exempted, or even partially, from the federal budgetary effort.
” We look. This is not something that will be applied without taking into consideration the impacts it may have. So, the decision has not been made,” she declared again on Tuesday upon her arrival at the cabinet meeting.
But behind the scenes, we don’t beat around the bush. “What we said was: “send us a submission (for cuts), we will evaluate it, then we will tell you whether we approve it or not”. Then everyone does that, except Radio-Canada which doesn’t seem to understand,” sighs a source.
The other source also insists that “they (CBC / Radio-Canada) have no indication that the exercise will apply to them”.
Less significant job losses?
If the public broadcaster is exempt from the budgetary exercise, the number of job losses could be less significant, according to the big boss of CBC / Radio-Canada.
According to calculations by the Radio-Canada Workers’ Union, which is affiliated with the CSN, the 3% reduction in expenses represents approximately $38 million per year.
We also note that it is in fact $60 million that is associated with the 800 positions cut since $25 million of savings come from discretionary spending and $40 million from independent productions.
The management of CBC / Radio-Canada, however, indicated in an email that the “3.3%” cuts which are “requested by the federal government” represent $11 million starting next year and that the target will rise to $38 million. $ in three years.
In the office of the President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand, it is explained that the government is seeking “on average approximately” to “refocus” by 3% per department.
A spokesperson for Mme Anand, Ronny Al-Nosir, stated that the Treasury Board does not have jurisdiction over Crown corporations, but rather the departments to which they report.
And as CBC / Radio-Canada reports to the Department of Canadian Heritage, “it is Heritage which will have to consult with all the Crown corporations to determine who puts what in this exercise,” he explained.
Both the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party (NDP) indicated Tuesday that they believe the public broadcaster should be exempt from the 3% cuts.
“I am not a supporter of cuts or financial restrictions at Radio-Canada, especially in a context of crisis,” declared Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet. There is no question of the State rejecting the essential information mandate, particularly in the regions, and largely in French, of Radio-Canada. »
Furthermore, Mr. Blanchet asks the state-owned company to immediately suspend “any program or any attempt to cut positions” and for its CEO to appear before a parliamentary committee.
NDP Canadian Heritage critic Peter Julian said an exemption means CBC/Radio-Canada must invest in local news. He considers that bonuses for senior executives have no place in a context of cutbacks, something the CEO, Catherine Tait, did not renounce in an interview widely shared on social networks.
The deputy leader of the NDP, Alexandre Boulerice, added that his party is in favor of an emergency fund to “save the furniture”. He then went on the attack, accusing the minister of “turning a blind eye” to the cuts, which contrasts with her comments from the time when she was a union leader in the communications sector.
In the Conservative Party of Canada, whose leader Pierre Poilievre promises to “defund” CBC if he becomes prime minister, a spokesperson declared that the party always intends to protect Radio-Canada, the French service of the public broadcaster.