MP Collins reacts to Bell Media layoffs after taking wage subsidy

VICTORIA- NDP MP Laurel Collins made the following statement:

“Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen Bell Media lay off hundreds of journalists across the country, including hard-working news staff at Bell-owned stations in Victoria like CFAX and CTV News Vancouver Island.

It’s unacceptable that Bell received over in $122 million Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy support, then turned around and laid off staff, all while posting strong financial results and paying out dividend increases to shareholders. There shouldn’t be any excuses for layoffs or closures if they’re receiving the wage subsidy.

It’s clear whose side the Liberals are on when they’ve been going after people who are barely surviving the pandemic, but they're refusing to go after big corporations that received a wage subsidy, made profits and payed massive dividends to their rich shareholders.

The government must hold big corporations accountable and make sure pandemic help goes directly to keeping workers in their jobs.”

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For more information, please contact: 

Nadia Hamdon, Member’s Assistant to MP Collins : 250-532-2482 or Nadia.hamdon.841@parl.gc.ca or

NDP Media Centre: 613-222-2351 or media@ndp.ca