Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has touted Bill C-18, the Online News Act, as critical for Canada’s media sector, but government’s internal modelling suggests there will be limited benefits for most news outlets. Earlier this fall, the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that it would generate $329 million per year, with over 75% of that revenue going to broadcasters such as Bell, Rogers, and the CBC. At the time, I noted that meant that “newspapers will receive less than 25% of the funding or about $81 million to split among hundreds of news outlets.” It turns out that the government believes that vastly overstates the benefit as its own modelling estimates about $150 million in total revenues, less than the 50% of the PBO’s estimate. Assuming a similar apportionment of revenues between broadcasters and newspapers, that would place the benefit at just over $37 million for the entire newspaper sector. In fact, as the government has expanded the eligibility to hundreds of additional outlets, the benefits for each organization shrinks even further.
Archive for December 8th, 2022

Law Bytes
Episode 168: Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne on How to Fix Bill C-27
byMichael Geist

May 29, 2023
Michael Geist
May 15, 2023
Michael Geist
May 1, 2023
Michael Geist
April 24, 2023
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Recent Posts
Globe Publisher Calls Bill C-18 a “Threat to the Independence of Media” As Government Senate Representative Smears Bill Critics
Extend the Deadline: My Submission to the CRTC on its Deeply Flawed Bill C-11 Consultations
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 168: Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne on How to Fix Bill C-27
CRTC Chair Vicky Eatrides Faces Her First Big Test: Is the Commission Serious About Public Participation on Bill C-11?
Ready, Fire, Aim: Eleven Thoughts on the CRTC’s Bill C-11 Consultations