I remember when my wife and I first moved to Toronto from Ottawa in 1996. The Toronto Star classifieds were critical to our efforts in find a rental. I just noticed this sad little Twitter post link to a union press release essentially announcing the end of jobs in Canada related to this section. Classifieds were once a cash cow for newspapers in every city in North America. The Internet, and Craig's List in particular have changed all that.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/06/c4305.html

COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND PAPERWORKERS UNION OF CANADA

Shame

Toronto Star contracts classified ad department out to Buffalo

27 more jobs vanishing in move that betrays what the Star stands for

TORONTO, July 6 /CNW/ - Toronto Star management ignored its own values
and the paper's vaunted Atkinson principles today in announcing that its
classified advertising department is being outsourced to a Buffalo-based
American firm.
Their plan would see some 27 out of 32 unionized Star employees in
Classified lose their jobs to Americans. Just last month, Star layoffs saw 38
other long-serving Advertising employees leave their jobs.
"This latest attack on its own employees goes against every principle the
Star upholds in its editorials," said Maureen Dawson, who chairs the Star unit
of the Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild. "The newspaper that calls itself the
voice of the little people is sending jobs across the lake to another country?
In the middle of a recession? This is the height of hypocrisy. Shame."
The Guild has already opened an employment Action Centre at its local
office on Queen St. E. That effort will be extended to include this latest
round of layoffs.
Dawson said the Star agreed to delay formal layoff notices to employees
for two weeks while alternatives are discussed with the union, as required by
contract, and volunteers sought for layoffs.
"We don't even understand Star math anymore," said Dawson. "The company
says it will save $1.5 million a year, but the targeted employees only earn
$1.3 million in total, and that's being generous.
"This is about shedding jobs, period, without regard for alternatives or
loyalty or the principles we thought we operated under. It's a sad, sad day in
Star history."