BNN, the Business News Network, will soon become BNN Bloomberg in an arrangement which seems to be a cashless swap of access to airtime in exchange for content. It isn’t really said what is happening with the money except that there may staffing economies for Bell. It begins this Spring. The now nearly 20-year-old BNN started as Report on Business Television in 1999 and was later swallowed by Bell Media which changed the name to BNN. Canadian Press says that the deal will see the station add several hours of live evening television coverage of Asian markets, early morning programs from Europe and contributions from Bloomberg reporters. Officially, the new cocktail of Canadian and US originated material will be known as BNNBloomberg.ca. Canadian Press says the partnership will also see an increase in BNN’s syndicated radio content available for distribution to Bell Media radio stations, including rights to distribute the Bloomberg Radio livestream in Canada and a new channel on iHeartRadio.
BUSINESSES “BULLYING” STAFF OVER $14 MINIMUM
If ever businesses needed evidence of the “activist” credentials of the Ontario government they may see it this week as both the Premier and Labour Minister are sniping at well-known (and large) retailers who are allegedly “bullying” their employees over the higher cost of the increased minimum wage. The minister, Mr. Flynn has suggested that some unnamed employers are trying to keep tips, an illegal act in Ontario. “The minimum wage, I don’t believe, ever in history has been raised without the business community raising a fuss or concerns,” he said. “For some businesses to take it out on their workers, however, is completely unacceptable and it’s simply wrong. It’s the act of bullies that has no place in this province. I really hope that the businesses that have acted in this manner decide on sober second thought to reverse the decisions they’ve made.” There are stories that two eastern Ontario Tim Hortons franchises that are owned by the children of the company’s co-founders have cut paid breaks and forced employees to cover a bigger share of their benefits.
