The transaction led to an investigation by the Competition Bureau, which after several years said it wouldn’t take further action.
However, the Toronto Star appears to be somewhat set apart from the rest of the merged entity. Postmedia said the proposal would see the Toronto Star maintain editorial independence through the incorporation of a new company that would manage its editorial operations. Nordstar would retain a 65 per cent interest in that company.Story continues below advertisement
The company announced significant layoffs in January this year, affecting around 11 per cent of editorial staff. In recent years, Postmedia has closed a number of small-town newspapers, reduced print production of some titles, and moved some titles to digital-only formats to manage costs, among other layoffs and buyout offers.