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February 05, 2026 – Canada –
Canadian media giant Bell Media has confirmed a significant round of layoffs that will impact newsroom staff and other employees nationwide, marking another blow to the country’s journalism sector amid a wider industry shift toward digital platforms and cost-cutting measures. The restructuring, announced in early February 2026, follows a trend of newsroom contractions across Canada’s major media organisations.
According to Bell Media, approximately 60 positions across its operations will be eliminated, including talent in local newsrooms, production teams and support roles. The company said the layoffs are part of a broader “transformation to a more digitally focused media organisation” intended to align resources with evolving audience habits and commercial realities. Bell Media stated that affected employees include both union and non-union roles, with decisions driven largely by declining advertising revenue and the rising cost of sustaining traditional broadcast operations.
The Unifor union, which represents many of the impacted employees, confirmed that at least 20 journalism staff members were laid off across Canada. Unifor officials emphasised that these cuts will deepen the challenges already facing local reporting, particularly in regions outside major urban centres where Bell Media’s local TV and radio stations have served as key sources of community news. Union representatives called on corporate leadership to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of newsrooms and to explore alternatives to broad workforce reductions.
Industry analysts and media observers noted that the layoffs mirror sustained pressures on Canadian journalism, where traditional media outlets have struggled to adapt to digital competition and fragmented advertising markets. Bell Media’s transformation plan follows similar restructuring at other news organisations, reinforcing concerns about the long-term viability of locally produced journalism and the capacity of media companies to maintain robust editorial coverage amid business model challenges.
Local journalists affected by the layoffs expressed shock and frustration, highlighting the personal and community impact of shrinking newsroom capacity. Some reporters noted that reductions come at a time when demand for reliable local reporting remains high, particularly for coverage of municipal governance, public services and regional affairs. Critics warn that continued newsroom contraction risks leaving “news deserts” in parts of Canada where resident access to independent reporting is already limited.
Bell Media said it will provide severance packages and support services for those affected, while also stating that re-investments will be made in digital content creation and distribution initiatives aimed at reaching audiences across online platforms. Corporate executives framed the reorganisation as a necessary step to “modernise” the company’s media offerings in an era marked by rapid changes in consumption patterns and technology.
The layoffs follow similar contractions at other Canadian media outlets in recent years and have renewed debate over sustainable business models for journalism in the digital age, including community funding options, public policy interventions and innovative revenue mechanisms to support quality reporting.
Overall, Bell Media’s announcement highlights persistent challenges confronting news organisations in Canada, with newsroom reductions signalling continued pressure on the information ecosystem and the future of independent journalism in the country.
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