CBC News announced on Thursday that it is laying off 244 people across the country in an effort to reduce $15-million from its operating costs.

One hundred and forty-four jobs will be cut from English-language services while another 100 will be slashed on the French services’ Radio-Canada.

“This is more awful news following the cuts of 1,000 jobs last year,” said Marc-Philippe Laurin, CMG President at CBC. The continued deep cuts to Canada’s main news organization is an attack on local newsgathering across the country, at the very time that the CRTC has acknowledged its importance to all Canadians. Survey after survey, before the CRTC and Parliamentary committees, Canadians have been clear that local news is very important to them, and CBC plays a huge role in that. These cuts are a major blow to Canada’s biggest, independent news organization.”

On the English services side of operations, 25 jobs will be cut in British Columbia.

Elsewhere, seven positions will be slashed in Newfoundland & Labrador, 11 in Nova Scotia, two positions in Prince Edward Island, four in New Brunswick, nine positions in Quebec, 30 positions in Ontario, three in Manitoba, 11 in Saskatchewan, 37 positions in Alberta and five positions in The North.

The layoffs are expected to happen in July through to September. The cuts are part of a five-year strategy unveiled last June as CBC shifts focus on mobile and digital priorities.