MONTREAL – The federal government, Cogeco and Quebecor announced Wednesday they are pulling all their advertising investments from Meta’s platforms after the social media company banned news linking in response to the passing of the Online News Act.
“Any move by Meta to circumvent Canadian law, block news for its users or discriminate against Canadian media content on its platforms, through its algorithms or otherwise, cannot be tolerated,” Quebecor said in a press release Wednesday morning.
“In view of Meta’s categorical refusal to enter into negotiations, Quebecor announces that, effective immediately and until further notice, it is withdrawing all advertising by…
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Editor’s note: This post has been updated to specify which consultation received a comment deadline extension.
OTTAWA – The CRTC announced Friday it is granting, in part, a request by a group of 12 organizations to extend the deadline to submit comments to one of three consultations on the implementation of the Online Streaming Act.
The commission pushed back the deadline to comment on its consultation for a flexible approach to Canadian contributions from online programmers from June 27 to July 11, while replies have been adjusted from July 12 to July 26. The dozen groups, which includes…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – In proposed policy directions released Thursday to the CRTC on implementing bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, the federal government reaffirmed that there would be no regulation of social media content or its users.
The CRTC will be directed to exclude from regulation social media creators, including podcasters, as well the video games media form. Broadcasters that post on social media as well as other platforms, like TV and radio, however will not necessarily be exempt.
To promote a wide range of Canadian programming, the CRTC will also be directed to consider various means…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that the move by Google and Meta to trial blocking news on their platforms in response the Online News Act is “not going to work.”
In a response to a question about Meta’s move last week to test block news on its Facebook and Instagram products, Trudeau said “these internet giants would rather cut-off Canadians’ access to local news than pay their fair share.” The Online News Act, Bill C-18, would require large technology platforms to compensate news publishers for linking to their work.
They are “resorting…
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By Connie Thiessen
Catherine Tait’s appointment as President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada has been extended another 18 months.
Canadian Heritage Min. Pablo Rodriguez announced the extension this morning, which will see Tait serve in the role until January 2, 2025.
Tait initially took up the appointment on July 3, 2018, the first woman in the history of the public broadcaster to serve as president and CEO. The former president and CEO of Salter Street Films and co-founder of NYC-based prodco Duopoly, Tait’s leadership at CBC has been marked by a distinct platform agnostic approach as the broadcaster moves into the digital-first content space. She has also championed advancing CBC’s commitment…
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By Pierre Karl Peladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor
The Online Streaming Act (bill C-11) has been passed. This means foreign streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and YouTube will be subject to Canadian law and will be required to pay their fair share, just as Canada’s private broadcasters have always done. For too long, Canadian broadcasters, who have been operating in a rigid, highly regulated environment for decades, have had to contend with unfair competition from the web giants.
On the day the bill received Royal Assent, the Minister of Canadian Heritage said, “We are standing up for our stories,…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – Meta and Google threatened to withdraw news articles from their platforms should bill C-18 become law, company executives told members of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications Wednesday evening.
The framework of the Online News Act that passed second reading in the Senate last month requires platforms to compensate news publishers for linking to their articles.
“ is quite frankly, Senators, unworkable for us,” said Rachel Curran, the Ottawa-based head of public policy in Canada for Meta, parent company of Facebook, in its first appearance before a parliamentary committee…
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By Connie Thiessen
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is reporting another record year for Canadian film and television, however its Profile 2022: Economic Report on the Screen-based Media Production Industry cautions it will be difficult to sustain that level of production.
Looking at the state of film and television production in Canada between April 2021 and March 2022, the report indicates total production volume leapt by an unprecedented amount, reaching an all-time high of $11.69 billion. The industry added over $2.56 billion in production spending, pushing it 21.8% higher than the previous pre-pandemic high of $9.60 billion in 2019/20. The…
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CRTC says it has “no intention” to regulate user-generated content
By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA — Following a legislative journey that involved back-and-forth amendments between the House of Commons and Senate since it was introduced in the House in February 2022, Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act reached the finish line on Thursday when it passed the upper chamber and received royal assent.
“This new law will help ensure Canadian stories and music are widely available on streaming platforms, and will help to reinvest in future generations of artists and creators in Canada,” said the Department of Canadian Heritage in a news…
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By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA — Despite its recent test to limit news for some users in response to its objections to bill C-18, “Google is deeply committed to Canada” and is “one of the world’s biggest supporters of journalism,” Kent Walker, president of global affairs and chief legal officer of the search-engine giant and its parent company, Alphabet Inc.
“We believe that the legislation could be amended to support journalism and to provide consumers with a more diverse range of perspectives delivered in innovative and accessible formats, without undercutting core principles that allow the internet to benefit Canadians and people around…
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