The extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances we face today have upended our habits and are forcing all of us to rethink how we do things on a daily basis. As a major, socially responsible Québec telecommunications and media company with deep roots in the community stretching back nearly 60 years, Quebecor has implemented special protective, preventive and support measures at its head office and at its subsidiaries for its employees, customers and partners over the past few days. Our goal is to show leadership and solidarity, and to maintain without interruption the essential services we provide.

 

Health and safety of our employees

In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Quebecor's priority is to protect its employees. We have implemented an array of measures, including:

• Telework for the vast majority of employees, with the exception of those needed to provide essential telecommunications and news services
• Mandatory 14-day quarantine for all employees returning from a trip or presenting with flu-like symptoms
• 1 to 2 metre distancing between people in the workplace
• Increased housekeeping services in all Quebecor workplaces

 

In addition, to address its employees’ concerns and questions, Quebecor has produced four information videos (available in French only) on COVID-19, with the collaboration of Dr. Cécile Tremblay, a microbiologist and infectious disease specialist at the CHUM hospital. They cover the symptoms, hygiene and hand washing, preventive measures and COVID-19 myths.

 

Videotron

Videotron's network is robust and was built to withstand the increased traffic generated by the current situation. The company is focusing all of its efforts on keeping us all connected at all times. Videotron has taken a number of important initiatives to make life easier for its customers, including:

 

Internet access

• Data caps removed on all residential and business Internet packages so that people can work from home without worrying about their Internet usage

Television

• Numerous channels unscrambled, including many carrying children’s programs
• Free access to a large selection of on-demand content for all Videotron cable TV subscribers

Mobile

• International roaming charges cancelled
• Working with the federal government to inform Canadians who are still abroad

 

For more information, see Videotron's politics and preventive measures.

 

MAtv

MAtv, Videotron’s community channel, launched La Chaîne positive, a series that aims to keep people connected with videos, produced entirely via telework, featuring positive messages from local individuals and organizations that have had to rethink the way they live and work.

 

News media

Quebecor’s news outlets – TVA, LCN, Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec, 24 heures, QMI Agency, QUB radio and all Quebecor web platforms – are providing Quebecers with an essential service with real-time coverage of all developments related to the health crisis. Their news teams are working all-out to keep us informed of what is happening here and around the world.

• Ongoing special coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic by professionals
• COVID-19 newsletter summing up the day's events produced by Quebecor's news outlets and distributed every evening; subscribe at www.tvanouvelles.ca, www.journaldequebec.com or www.journaldemontreal.com
• Specialty channels LCN and Yoopa unscrambled
• Cancellation or postponement of non-essential shoots
• Production of TVA Sports’ original programs suspended until April 13, 2020
• The new TV show Ça va bien aller, hosted by Fabien Cloutier and Marie-Soleil Dion, has been on the air since April 6. It aims to break down the social isolation people are experiencing and help spread the spirit of solidarity and creativity that ties Quebecers together in these times. Monday to Thursday at 7 p.m. on TVA and TVA.ca.
• For the first time in their history, Quebecor's newspapers and magazines are being produced entirely in teleworking mode.

Books

• To support home-grown authors, Quebecor’s publishing houses have created Des livres ça se livre, an online platform featuring a wide variety of their books. 
• CEC Publishing has launched Mon sac d’école virtuel, a platform that gives students and parents free access to textbooks, interactive exercises and reading material for elementary, high school and college students.

Sports and Entertainment Group

On March 14, the Government of Quebec banned indoor gatherings of more than 250 people for 30 days in order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Quebecor Sports and Entertainment’s priority is protecting public health and safety. It immediately complied with the directives from public health authorities and also took steps to support the loyal employees who for years have played an instrumental role in the success of its events:

• $500,000 Emergency Fund set up to assist temporary employees, contributors and freelancers who suffer loss of income due to the cancellation of shows and events

Community support

In this unprecedented crisis which is causing anxiety and anguish for so many Quebecers, we need to stand together. Quebecor is doing its part to support the community in a number of ways.

• To help Québec's food banks, the Fondation Chopin-Péladeau and Quebecor have joined forces with La Tablée des Chefs in the “Cuisines Solidaires” project, which will produce more than 1.6 million meals for people in need during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
• As a longstanding supporter of the CHUM hospital foundation, Quebecor provided, with Videotron, 150 mobile devices with unlimited data plans to help protect healthcare professionals and patients by limiting physical contact, and to enable patients to stay in touch with their loved ones during the pandemic.
• Until May 10, for each GB gifted, Fizz will donate $1 to Regroupement Partage, up to a maximum of $50,000. You give data, we give food.
• In collaboration with the Government of Québec, Videotron is providing 1,000 smartphones with unlimited data plans to youth rehabilitation centres (CRJDAs) and long-term care facilities (CHSLDs) in Québec. The devices will help reduce the isolation of the centres’ residents and make it easier for the youths to access online educational modules.
• Fondation des Auberges du cœur du Québec has set up an emergency fund to help at-risk and homeless youths. This initiative was carried out in partnership with Fondation Chopin-Péladeau and its president Pierre Karl Péladeau, who has already made a $100,000 donation.
• On May 10, as a tribute to Quebecers during this difficult period, TVA and Télé-Québec simultaneously aired a “100% made in Québec” special called Une chance qu’on s’a. Presented in partnership with the Government of Québec, the event featured more than 80 well-known personalities, including Céline Dion, Jean-Pierre Ferland and Ginette Reno, and raised $2M for Little Brothers and SOS violence conjugale.

 

This page will be updated regularly as Quebecor announces new measures.