CBC plans to cut 800 jobs
Even after selling off assets valued at $125 million, the CBC will have to eliminate 800 jobs from the start of summer through September to make its target of $171 million in budget cutbacks, the national broadcasterís president Hubert Lacroix told employees at a town hall meeting in Montreal this morning.
ìThese are tough times for the public broadcaster,î Lacroix said. ìThe changes are significant and it will take time to talk them through.
ìWe need $171 million to balance our budget, which will mean 800 positions.î
Assuming the federal government approves the sales of assets and allows the CBC to keep the proceeds, balancing the budget ìstill results in (the loss of) 800 positions,î Lacroix said.
In addition, senior managersí take-home pay will be cut by 20 per cent, through reduced bonuses, and corporate salaries will be rolled back by 5 per cent.
At least half the job cuts will be made in English-language departments, said Richard Stursberg, vice-president of English services. Twenty per cent of them will be borne by regional services, and the remainder by the network, he added.
Television will feel the cuts more acutely than radio, which will continue broadcasting without commercials, Stursberg said.
But ìthe beef of the (television) schedule remains largely intact.î
CBC management has offered a voluntary retirement package and, until the results are known, the number of layoffs and the areas most affected remain unclear.
Another town hall meeting for CBC English services is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m.
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