Ming Pao closes Ontario and B.C. newsrooms

Roughly 60 Unifor members who worked at Ming Pao’s newsrooms in Toronto and Richmond B.C. will lose their jobs after the union learned the company is stopping its Canadian operations.

“This is yet another blow for Canadian journalism,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“This widens the gap of news deserts for Chinese-Canadian communities across the country, who rely on these sources for fact-based information. We will support our journalist and media worker members as they navigate this uncertain time.”

The union feels saddened by the end of a historic paper, which was established in Hong Kong in 1959.

The last publication will be Jan. 16. The newspaper said it will “wind down” operations on Jan. 31 for “financial reasons,” in a letter to the B.C. Labour Ministry. However, the parent company will still operate in Hong Kong.

Unifor understands the company is committed to paying severance as per the collective agreement and that benefits will continue to March 9.

“This is devastating for local news and the 50 members from Local 87-M in Toronto,” said Local 87-M President Carleen Finch. “We’re going to make sure they get the severance and respect they’re owed. The loss of these newspapers is not just a loss for our members, but a loss for the communities they serve.”

During the last few years, the company has commented that the operations are contingent on government grants and fundings. Last year, Ming Pao Canada received, about $1.1 million through the Online News Act.

https://www.unifor.org/news/all-news/ming-pao-closes-ontario-and-bc-newsrooms