1. Radio-Canada is cutting jobs because it has to cut its budget. 2. Radio-Canada's president doesn't rule out senior executives getting a bonus despite the layoffs. 3. Treasury says Radio-Canada was never asked to cut its budget. 4. Radio-Canada's budget will increase by nearly $100 million. 5. CBC stars say it would be indecent to pay bonuses to top executives.
Cuckoo! Is it just me who finds strange things happening at Radio-Canada/CBC these days?
Merry Christmas!
“CBC/Radio-Canada will receive a budget of $1.4 billion in 2024-2025, an increase from $1.3 billion last year.”
The headlines of the last few days are quite shocking. With the media crisis in full swing and layoffs continuing across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada is getting a Christmas present nine months in advance.
But I admit it's a little difficult to keep track of what's been going on at Rad-Can for a while…
In December, Radio-Canada announced it would cut 600 jobs, cut 200 more and cut its production budget by $40 million as it faced a $125 million deficit due to government demands to cut its spending was expected.
- Listen to Rémi Villemure's commentary on Sophie Durocher's microphone QUB :
But last week we learned that “the Treasury Department, which oversees federal budget spending, has said there is no policy of this kind and that Radio-Canada is not on the list of departments affected by government spending cuts. “
Imagine being one of the 800 people who were told before Christmas that you would lose your job due to a deficit… and then finding out two months later that your employer will receive $100 million on top of that. .. and that your managers might get a big bonus.
I remind you that the CEO and Vice President positions at CBC/Radio-Canada range from $311,000 to $637,700. And these people still haven't said a big NO to a bonus?
Know how to say no
The Canadian Press published a very interesting article yesterday entitled “CBC needs to take risks on its shows, according to its stars.”
Photo from the archives of Joël Lemay/QMI Agency
“The CBC should not be as beholden to advertisers because they are not obligated to track their audience like private networks are. They can take risks and should do something different,” said Gregory Taylor, a professor of media and film at the University of Calgary.
The article quotes CBC's “Son of a Critch” star Mark Critch as saying, “If it's taxpayer money, I don't actually think anyone should get a bonus.” For anything, unless you completely saved the day. If someone finds a cure for COVID, give them a bonus.”
While they wait for Radio-Canada executives to find a cure for cancer, they should all turn down the smallest bonus, even if they have $100 million more in their coffers.