Whether it’s at the health-care deal announcement in King City Friday morning or other events he attends, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau usually fields questions related to his appearance.

But his availability gives media the chance to ask him about other matters.

Such as Bell Media’s announced jobs cuts, that will lead to the end of multiple TV newscasts, programming cuts and the sale of 45 of its 103 regional radio stations.

Like any politician, Trudeau can take a long time replying in making his point or choose to avoid directly answering questions.

Not this time.

 

 

”I’m furious. This is a garbage decision by a corporation that should know better.

We’ve seen over the past years, journalistic outlets, radio stations, small community newspapers bought up by corporate entities, who then layoff journalists, change the offering, the quality of offering to people.

And then when people don’t watch as much or engage as much, the corporate entity says ‘Oh see. They’re not profitable anymore. We’re going to sell them off.”

Trudeau adds Canadians need to demand better ”as we will be demanding better from corporate leaders, like in this case Bell.”

”So yeah, I’m pretty pissed off about what’s just happened.”

Meanwhile, ZoomerMedia, which owns AM 740 and The New Classical FM 96.3 Toronto, 102.9 Collingwood and 103.1 Cobourg, announces its acquisition of CJOS 92.3 FM in Owen Sound.

 

 

Founder and CEO Moses Znaimer says ”reports of radio’s death have been greatly exaggerated.”