Corus Entertainment Inc. is cutting 43 unionized television jobs and centralizing production of its Global News broadcasts for Alberta, the Toronto-based broadcaster confirmed Thursday, a change the union says will further erode local journalism in Western Canada.
What the company says
Corus spokesperson Annie Arnone said the programming adjustments are intended to "improve efficiency and allow it to continue producing journalism," and that the company remains "committed to local news" in both Calgary and Edmonton. She also said the broadcaster will add roles to maintain news programming in those markets, but would not confirm whether production of the Alberta broadcasts will be moved to Toronto.
"Corus is committed to local news and will maintain its local news delivery in Calgary and Edmonton," the company said in an emailed statement.
Union reaction and regional impact
Unifor, which represents roughly 9,000 media workers across Canada, says the cuts are concentrated in Western Canada and called the layoffs the result of policy failures and corporate choices that have weakened local news. Unifor national president Lana Payne warned consolidation harms community reporting and that media workers are bearing the cost.
- Total jobs cut: 43 unionized TV positions
- Regions affected: Cuts most numerous in Alberta and include positions in B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan, the Maritimes and Ontario
- Company stance: Corus says it will retain local news delivery in Calgary and Edmonton and add roles to support programming
Where the cuts fall
| Region | Positions cut |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 28 |
| British Columbia | 2 |
| Winnipeg | 5 |
| Saskatoon | 2 |
| Maritimes | 3 |
| Ontario | 3 |
The union says most of the 43 positions are based in Western Canada; Corus has not provided a full list of affected individuals and said on-air changes will appear in the coming weeks.
Financial backdrop
The staffing changes come as Corus reported significant financial pressure: a $36.5-million net loss attributable to shareholders in its third quarter, and a 16 per cent decline in revenue compared with the same period a year earlier. Company executives have framed programming realignment as part of an effort to shore up operations amid those results.
For news consumers and local institutions, the consequences are immediate: fewer reporters and technical staff in regional centres can mean reduced capacity for daily coverage of municipal affairs, courts, schools and community events. Unifor says the pattern reflects a broader consolidation trend that risks hollowing out community journalism.
Corus’ announcement underscores the tension between broadcasters’ economic pressures and the public expectation for locally focused journalism. As the company rolls out changes, communities in Calgary, Edmonton and other affected cities will be watching for how local news hours and staffing are reconfigured.
