Finding solutions to the media crisis is essential “for the cohesion of the nation,” Prime Minister François Legault said the day after announcing 547 job cuts at TVA.
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“If we announce almost a third of TVA cuts, it will have an impact,” Mr. Legault stressed during a press briefing in Montreal. “If we want a good democracy, we need lots of journalists and lots of sources of information.”
Without naming specific measures, the prime minister said he was already working with Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe to find solutions to the many problems facing the media, such as the shift of advertising revenue to digital platforms and the decline in the number of people , who watch “traditional television”.
He also expressed concern about the quality of information in the region, while the cuts at TVA are a blow to regional information. “In Quebec, the problems vary greatly from region to region. “The decision taken yesterday has a big impact on the regions,” said the Prime Minister.
“There is also all the production of shows about Quebec culture in general. I’ve been discussing this with Mathieu Lacombe for months. We want a strong Quebec culture,” Mr. Legault added, explaining that producing French-language content is important “for the cohesion of the Quebec nation.”
The Prime Minister then stressed that this was not about “helping any particular company” and reiterated that it was the government’s responsibility to “address all issues.”
“I don’t want to delay solutions by waiting for the federal government,” he said, after acknowledging that “some television is Ottawa’s jurisdiction.”
Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated that his thoughts are with the 547 people who will lose their jobs and their families.