The union representing journalists at the Ottawa Citizen says Postmedia will be laying off six people, as job cuts at the newspaper chain continue.
Postmedia has faced declining revenues and has cut thousands of jobs in the last six years.
CWA Canada President Martin O'Hanlon tells CFRA the continued job losses are having a negative effect not only on newspapers, but the community at large.
"This is on top of all the buyouts that have already been taken," O'Hanlon says, "and on top of 50 per cent staff cuts over the last six years, so the newsroom is just a shell of what it was. We've been saying all along that we need more journalists, not fewer. The effect on the news for the community and the ramifications for our democracy is actually quite chilling when so few journalists are reporting on government, and reporting on what corporations and developers are doing. It doesn't bode well for the future of journalism and for our democracy."
O'Hanlon says the $2.3 million in retention bonuses given out to Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey and other executives should be invested in retaining staff.
"It would save far more jobs than they need to lay off. We're talking, so far, 15 jobs. The bonuses would save up to 40 jobs."
The other nine jobs are at the Montreal Gazette.
O'Hanlon says the company has not confirmed to him which Ottawa Citizen employees have been affected by this latest round of layoffs.
The Toronto-based Postmedia Networks Corp. reported a profit of $17.8 million last quarter, compared with a $4.2 million loss in the same time frame last year. Revenues fell by nearly 15 per cent.
However, last quarter's profits have been largely attributed to debt restructuring at the company.
With files from The Canadian Press.