Bell Canada’s chairman will testify before members of parliament next month regarding the company’s decision to cut thousands of jobs across Canada.

CEO Mirko Bibic is scheduled to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on April 11.

Canadian press had previously reported that Bibic was summoned to the committee after failing to attend previous meetings. However, Bell stated that the March 19 meeting had already been postponed by the committee.

The secretary of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage invited Bell to attend on March 19, which was easily confirmed. A statement from Bell said, "This was the only confirmed meeting so far." "Then the committee asked us to postpone the appearance on March 19. We accepted the invitation to appear on April 11 and look forward to speaking with committee members about the challenges and opportunities facing our industry."

In February, Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. announced it would cut 4,800 jobs from its workforce, ended many television news broadcasts, and sold 45 of its 103 radio stations.

Bell partially blamed the cuts on the federal government and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, claiming Ottawa was too slow in assisting media companies. In the same February announcement, Bell also stated it would raise quarterly dividends to shareholders from 96.75 cents to 99.75 cents per common share.