CUPE Quebec and the Syndicat des employé(e)s de TVA (CUPE 687) are relieved by the Quebec Finance Minister’s decision to expand support for radio and television stations that produce news programming. Specifically, the provincial government has announced an additional $40 million in tax credits over five years to cover all aspects of factual news production (researchers, camera operators, editors).
“This support is crucial. We are glad to see that our joint efforts with the employer to convince the government of the need for this funding have finally paid off. Let’s now hope this money will help restore and protect good jobs in our stations across Quebec,” said Carl Beaudoin, president of CUPE 687.
CUPE Quebec and its communications sector would like to thank the Minister of Culture and Communications and the Minister of Finance, as well as their staff, for listening. At a time when many newsrooms are closing and disinformation is on the rise, this support is a rare piece of good news for democracy.
“After all the cuts in recent years, this decision comes as a relief and will help ensure the long-term future of local and public-interest news production by the television and radio stations where our members work. We hope this support will quickly have a positive impact on regional news and lead to an increase in the resources available for producing and gathering local news,” added Steve Bargone, CUPE national representative and coordinator of CUPE Quebec’s communications sector.
It is now more urgent than ever for the Government of Canada to provide the same support, as it already does for print media.