CBC Cuts 600 Jobs or 10% of Workforce, Slashes Programming

In a significant development, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Radio-Canada have announced the elimination of approximately 600 jobs and the decision not to fill 200 existing vacancies.

This move comes as the broadcasters grapple with a looming budget shortfall of $125 million in 2024.

What’s happening at CBC and Radio-Canada?

• Job Cuts Across the Board: CBC and Radio-Canada are each reducing their workforce by 250 positions. Additional layoffs are expected across corporate divisions, including technology and infrastructure departments.
• Nature of the Positions: The job cuts will affect a mix of union and non-union roles.
• Not Happening All At Once: While some cuts will be made immediately, others will occur over the next 12 months. A bulk of the layoffs won’t occur until April 1, 2024.
• Programming Budget Cuts: Both the English and French programming budgets at CBC are facing reductions. This will result in fewer renewals, acquisitions, new television series, episodes of existing shows, and digital original series.

Why are these cuts happening?

CBC has cited several reasons for these drastic measures: Rising production costs, declining television advertising revenue, and competition from digital giants like Amazon, Disney, and Netflix.

The Crown corporation also anticipates losing $21 million in specialized government funding it has received each year since 2021 to help the broadcaster handle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statements from CBC leadership

Catherine Tait, CEO and President of CBC Canada, addressed these challenges during a virtual town hall, stating that “every part of this organization will be affected.”

• “The reason we’re doing it in this phased-in approach is in order to be able to retain flexibility to respond, if our fortunes do improve, and to be able to protect as many jobs as we possibly can.”
• “The more transparent we are, the better our relationship with the employees, but with that transparency, in this case, comes uncertainty, and so that’s the hard piece that we’re going to have to manage.”
• “We see that the entire media sector — private and public — are all under the same financial stresses.”
• “It will hurt over time because it means more repeats and it means fewer new shows to celebrate and fewer new series to participate in all the awards that we get.”

Government’s role and possible interventions

• Federal Government’s Stance: The layoffs follow the federal government’s indication of possibly capping the funds CBC and Radio-Canada can receive from Ottawa’s new $100 million deal with Google.
• Heritage Minister’s Input: Pascale St-Onge, the Heritage Minister, has hinted at the government’s openness to potentially assisting CBC/Radio-Canada.

CBC/Radio-Canada’s forward-looking statement

In a press release, CBC/Radio-Canada expressed that these reductions aim to maximize organizational flexibility in case of financial situation changes next year, while minimizing effects on employees and services provided to Canadians.

📺 WATCH: Everything You Need to Know About Mass Terminations

Lost Your Job? Get Help Now

📞 Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP: 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Our experienced employment lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia (BC) have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals resolve their workplace issues, including wrongful dismissals.

If you’ve lost your job at CBC for any reason, don’t panic. We can review your situation, assess your legal options, and help you secure the compensation you’re legally entitled to.