Burry, who hosted the NTV Evening Newshour from 1993 to 2019, said it was an unusual way to get rid of a long-time presenter who had dedicated her career to the network and was widely popular across the country. “I think this is a PR disaster for Bell Media,” Burry said. “I can’t believe it was treated the way it was.” LaFlamme, who has worked with CTV for 35 years, posted a video on Twitter Monday saying her contract was terminated in June. She said the network’s parent company, Bell, had asked her to remain silent until the details of her departure were worked out. Her video has sparked an outcry across the country, with a wide range of voices from late-night viewers to longtime CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge to singer Anne Murray shouting their thoughts. I have some news… pic.twitter.com/lTe3Rs0kOA —@LisaLaFlamme_
“Very disrespectful”
News website and podcast network Canadaland reported Monday that LaFlamme’s departure may be related to disputes with a Bell executive. Even if it’s personal in nature, Burry said, LaFlamme’s termination sends a bad message to women in media and has led to debate about a woman’s place behind the anchor desk beyond a certain age. Whatever happened before LaFlamme’s contract was terminated, Burry said the whole situation could have been handled better. “It’s very disrespectful,” he said. “They have the right to have whoever they want in their office, obviously, but to have someone who’s worked there for 35 years be treated like that — people don’t like that.” Lynn Burry, pictured here hosting the 2019 Provincial Leaders’ Debate, hosted the NTV Evening Newshour for decades. (CBC) Burry has some insight into how LaFlamme might be feeling. When her 36-year career with NTV ended in 2019, she didn’t leave the office but with a post on social media. While she wouldn’t go into specifics, Burry said she didn’t want to leave like that. “My exit from NTV was not my choice, and these things happen,” Burry said. “I didn’t say goodbye to people on the air, I did it on social media and it’s very sad that these things happen but they happen. That’s the nature of the business and sometimes it can be tough and people deserve better treatment than what they’re getting.” . Neither Burry nor NTV have spoken publicly about the situation in the past, and a company spokesman said they could not discuss “private matters as they relate to past or present employees”. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh prepares for an interview with LaFlamme during a campaign rally in Toronto on October 17, 2019. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press) Bell and CTV have remained mostly silent on LaFlamme’s termination, saying in a brief story posted on their website that it was a “business decision” related to “changing viewership habits.” He will be replaced by national affairs correspondent Omar Sachedina, who joined the network in 2009. Burry said the explanation doesn’t hold up — CTV National News was one of the most popular news outlets in the country, regularly ahead of other networks. In private media, ratings are the main driver for selling ads and earning revenue. “How could this be a business decision?” he said. “Even if it was just the money, you’d keep her in the anchor office. She’s doing a good job.” Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
