The House of Cards Crumbles: Why the Bell Media Layoffs and Government’s Failed Media Policy are Connected - Michael Geist
Bell’s announcement this week that it is laying off thousands of workers - including nearly 500 Bell Media employees - has sparked political outrage with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterizing it as a “garbage decision.” The job losses are obviously brutal for those directly affected and it would be silly to claim that a single policy response was responsible. Yet to suggest that the government’s media policy, particularly Bills C-11 and C-18, played no role is to ignore the reality of a failed approach for which there have been blinking warning signs for years. Indeed, Trudeau’s anger (which felt a bit like a reprise of his Meta comments over the summer) may partly reflect frustration that his policy choices have not only not worked, but have made matters worse.
![The House of Cards Crumbles: Why the Bell Media Layoffs and Government’s Failed Media Policy are Connected - Michael Geist](https://www.michaelgeist.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/33421723250_7edc105e9a_k.jpg?#)
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Bell’s announcement this week that it is laying off thousands of workers - including nearly 500 Bell Media employees - has sparked political outrage with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterizing it as a “garbage decision.” The job losses are obviously brutal for those directly affected and it would be silly to claim that a single policy response was responsible. Yet to suggest that the government’s media policy, particularly Bills C-11 and C-18, played no role is to ignore the reality of a failed approach for which there have been blinking warning signs for years. Indeed, Trudeau’s anger (which felt a bit like a reprise of his Meta comments over the summer) may partly reflect frustration that his policy choices have not only not worked, but have made matters worse.