Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

=== Suspension of local newscasts during the COVID-19 pandemic ===
On March 18, 2020, in the wake of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|COVID-19 pandemic]], CBC News suspended all of its English-language [[CBC Television local newscasts|local newscasts]] (excluding those carried by [[CBC North]], which include an English-language newscast and a second in [[Inuktitut]]), replacing them in their time slots with [[simulcast]]s of [[CBC News Network]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/cbc-temporarily-scraps-local-tv-newscasts-except-for-the-north-due-to-covid-19-1.24100574|title=CBC temporarily scraps local TV newscasts, except for the North, due to COVID-19|last=Ahearn|first=Victoria|website=Tri-City News|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319045715/https://www.tricitynews.com/cbc-temporarily-scraps-local-tv-newscasts-except-for-the-north-due-to-covid-19-1.24100574|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.fagstein.com/2020/03/18/cbc-suspends-local-tv-newscasts/|title=CBC suspends local TV newscasts amid COVID-19 outbreak|last=Faguy|first=Steve|date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321052634/https://blog.fagstein.com/2020/03/18/cbc-suspends-local-tv-newscasts/|url-status=live}}</ref> The CBC stated that this was done in order to pool its local resources to CBC News Network as a "core news offering".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-tvnews-changes-coronavirus-1.5501512|title=CBC temporarily replaces local evening TV news amid coronavirus pandemic|date=March 18, 2020|publisher=CBC News|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319064203/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cbc-tvnews-changes-coronavirus-1.5501512|url-status=live}}</ref> An employee memo suggested that a lack of staff at the [[Canadian Broadcasting Centre]] and "much stricter newsgathering protocols" were another factor in the decision.<ref name=":0" /> CBC News editor-in-chief Brodie Fenlon similarly stated that the broadcaster had decided to consolidate news production because their outbreak had "place[d] incredible demands on our staff and our infrastructure", and not all jobs associated with television production were capable of being done remotely.<ref name=":0" /> These consolidations only affect news programming on CBC Television; [[CBC Radio]] and [[Ici Radio-Canada Télé]] have continued to carry local content.<ref name=":0" />

The CBC's decision faced criticism for its lack of clear justification, and resulting reduction of local news coverage during a major news event—especially in markets where CBC's local newscasts are the only news programming specific to the region (such as [[Prince Edward Island]], which resulted in criticism of the move by [[Premier of Prince Edward Island|Premier]] [[Dennis King (politician)|Dennis King]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-premier-incredibly-disappointed-in-suspension-of-local-cbc-news-programming-426065/|title=P.E.I. premier 'incredibly disappointed' in suspension of local CBC news programming|website=The Guardian|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319045741/https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/pei-premier-incredibly-disappointed-in-suspension-of-local-cbc-news-programming-426065/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Canadian Media Guild]] stated that the decision "flies in the face of past experience which has proven time and again that in times of significant events, Canadians trust and rely on CBC news coverage, particularly for its widespread coverage of regional and local impact, something no other Canadian network can match".<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'' media writer Steve Faguy questioned whether this change was in compliance with the individual stations' CRTC licences, as all CBC stations are required to produce local newscasts daily, and a minimum amount of local programming per-week.<ref name=":0" />

In an editorial for ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', former CTV News president [[Robert Hurst (broadcaster)|Robert Hurst]] stated that it was unusual for a journalistic operation to cut back on its operations during a crisis, and suggested that decision was the culmination of "decades of CBC News mismanagement" and low ratings in comparison to competitors (such as CTV, Global, and Citytv) in most markets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-cbcs-closure-of-local-newscasts-amid-the-coronavirus-crisis-is-a/|title=CBC's closure of local newscasts amid the coronavirus crisis is a shame|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=March 23, 2020|archive-date=March 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323001842/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/article-cbcs-closure-of-local-newscasts-amid-the-coronavirus-crisis-is-a/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''Toronto Star'' similarly wrote that the CBC had "decided to bail on local communities across the country".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2020/03/19/cbc-shouldnt-shut-local-news-shows-in-a-time-of-crisis.html|title=CBC shouldn't shut local news shows in a time of crisis|date=March 19, 2020|website=Toronto Star|access-date=March 23, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320064426/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2020/03/19/cbc-shouldnt-shut-local-news-shows-in-a-time-of-crisis.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 24, the CBC announced that it would introduce "an expanded 30-minute local news segment on CBC News Network" beginning March 25, and would "make every effort to have all of the dedicated local shows back up on the main network".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-24-2020-1.5507880/we-totally-understand-the-frustration-cbc-president-defends-local-tv-news-suspension-amid-pandemic-1.5508146|title='We totally understand the frustration': CBC president defends local TV news suspension amid pandemic|date=March 24, 2020|website=CBC Radio|access-date=March 24, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325160544/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-24-2020-1.5507880/we-totally-understand-the-frustration-cbc-president-defends-local-tv-news-suspension-amid-pandemic-1.5508146|url-status=live}}</ref>