APTN National News
The well-known editor of a long-running First Nation media outlet has been laid off, the victim of federal budget cuts.
Maurice Switzer worked for Anishinabek News for 14 years before he was let go this past week. Anishinabek News is operated by the communications unit of the Union of Ontario Indians, an organization that saw its core funding drop for 2014.
“He (Switzer) was laid off last week due to business conditions.” wrote UOI spokesperson Marci Becking in an email distributed to freelance writers. “This notice was necessary given the recent fiscal attacks against the (Provincial & Territorial Organizations) by the federal government, cutting core funding for such activities as communications.”
Becking says Switzer will continue to work with the Union of Ontario Indians as a contract public educator.
Started in 1988, Anishinabek News was originally a newspaper but published its last printed edition in March of 2014. With Switzer’s departure, Marci Becking says she is Anishinabek News’ sole employee.
Switzer wasn’t available to comment.
