News organizations and journalists are essential to our democracy. They play a vital role in providing accurate, fact-based, non-partisan reporting on current events happening in our communities, across the country and around the world, allowing all of us to make informed decisions on important issues such as health, public safety and education.
Today, Bill C-18, the Online News Act, received Royal Assent. This new law will require the largest digital platforms to bargain fairly with Canadian news businesses for the use of their news content on their services.
Millions of Canadians now access their news online. Digital platform act as the gatekeepers in today's digital news marketplace.
The Online News Act levels the playing field between news businesses and large digital platforms to create greater fairness to ensure sustainability of the news industry. Through a market-based approach, it encourages voluntary commercial agreements between platforms and news businesses with minimal government intervention, as well as crucial safeguards to preserve the independence of the press.
Following Royal Assent, the Department of Canadian Heritage will publish draft regulations in the Canada Gazette specifying the application of the Act and provide guidance on implementing the exemption criteria. Everyone will have an opportunity to consult and provide feedback through this Canada Gazette process.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will be responsible for overseeing the Online News Act. It will oversee the bargaining, negotiation and external final-offer arbitration processes between platforms and news businesses. It will also create a code of conduct to support fairness and transparency in bargaining.
