Bell Canada Offers Buyouts to 1,500

In recent months, Bell Canada has announced plans to expand its 3G wireless and fiber Internet Protocol networks, improve repair and installation services, boost its satellite TV operations at BellTV and mobile smartphones and expand its new national marketing brand.

Since the takeover fell through, Bell's Canada's 44-per-cent-owned unit, Bell Aliant, Atlantic Canada's dominant telephone company, announced it is cutting 500 management jobs in a move to streamline operations and improve its bottom line.

The cuts at the Halifax-based company reflect about 15% of the telecom operator's management positions, or about five per cent of its overall work force of about 10,000 employees.

The cuts at Bell Aliant mirror similar moves made last summer by Bell Canada, which pared about 2,500 white-collar jobs, or 15% of its management work force, in one of the first streamlining moves made by new CEO George Cope.