Bill C-18: The Online News Act was introduced by the Hon. Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, this morning in the House of Commons.
The bill’s purpose is to regulate digital news intermediaries to enhance fairness in the Canadian digital news marketplace and contribute to its sustainability, including the sustainability of independent local news businesses.
While we are still reviewing the details in the legislation, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters welcomes the introduction of Bill C-18 as an important step in recognizing the value of broadcasters’ news content, and providing the necessary framework for fair negotiation between news organizations and online platforms.
A healthy and independent press is a critical cornerstone of Canada’s democracy. The fair and equitable compensation of broadcasters for the use and exploitation of their news content is an essential element to ensure that broadcasters can continue to sustainably fund newsgathering and provide news and information to Canadians that informs citizens and supports our democratic institutions.
The CAB thanks Minister Rodriguez and the officials at the Department of Canadian Heritage for their work in the lead up to the introduction of this legislation. We look forward to working with all Parliamentarians in the coming weeks and will continue advocating on behalf of Canadian broadcasters as the bill moves through the legislative process.
To learn more about the Online News Act visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/online-news.html