Western Standard - December 15, 2023


Final regulations to support the implementation of the #OnlineNewsAct


Episode Stats

Length

6 minutes

Words per Minute

145.6154

Word Count

993

Sentence Count

53


Summary

In this episode, the Minister of Digital Strategy and New Media Relations, Chrystia Orsini, talks about the impact of the Online News Act and its impact on the media sector, and what the government is doing to try to fix it.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 So today marks the last day of the government's work in implementing the Online News Act
00:00:08.680 by sending the final regulations to the CRTC.
00:00:13.680 It's the independent institution that will be responsible to make sure that the legislation is enforced
00:00:22.560 and also that whatever negotiations and agreements fall under the legislation and the regulations.
00:00:34.300 It's a great day for the sustainability of our newsrooms.
00:00:38.680 We know that there's been a lot of layoffs.
00:00:42.160 More than thousands of journalists have lost their jobs across the country in the past decade.
00:00:46.100 Having more equitable relationships and commercial relationships between tech giants and our newsroom
00:00:54.500 is an essential part of ensuring the sustainability of our news sector
00:01:00.460 and ensuring that journalism continues to play its role in democracy.
00:01:05.800 It's also a first of its kind in the world where we have a transparent and viable legislation
00:01:15.280 where smaller news outlets also have a seat at the negotiating table with the tech giants.
00:01:23.020 So this is extremely good for Canadians.
00:01:25.940 It's good for democracy and I think it's a good step for the rest of the world as well.
00:01:31.220 Why has the government chosen to limit the amount of funding the broadcasters get through the Online News Act
00:01:40.220 when the three big broadcasters also represent the largest news websites in Canada?
00:01:47.800 Yes, there's two things that we need to consider.
00:01:50.200 First of all, this is an agreement between Google and news outlets.
00:01:55.880 So first of all, Google, it's an exchange of value between Google and news outlets.
00:02:00.260 So, of course, it concerns, first and foremost, content that is online.
00:02:06.580 Second of all, content that will also be on the platform, on Google.
00:02:14.080 And we know that, you know, how the news sector is divided.
00:02:18.920 It's a third of journalists are at CBC Radio Canada,
00:02:21.940 about a third of journalists at broadcasters
00:02:25.200 and a third of journalists in publishers, the publishing sector.
00:02:32.220 But for broadcasters, it's not all journalists that their work is primarily for the online content.
00:02:43.440 So, and again, I remind that this is a deal between Google and the media.
00:02:47.900 So, this is why, you know, 30% represents pretty much a third of the total of the envelope.
00:02:55.980 So, it's pretty fair.
00:02:57.120 So, we tried to make sure that there's a fair compensation for broadcasters, for publishers,
00:03:04.460 and we capped the amount for CBC Radio Canada.
00:03:06.740 When you want to stand with Meta, are you hoping for a similar deal that you have here with Google?
00:03:11.380 Where do you think stand?
00:03:12.460 Are you at the negotiating table with Meta?
00:03:14.340 What's happening there?
00:03:15.040 Well, it takes two to negotiate, and everybody has seen the approach that Meta and Facebook has taken,
00:03:22.560 which is to not participate in the legislative process, not to participate in the regulatory process.
00:03:29.320 So, no, there is no negotiations currently with Facebook.
00:03:32.440 However, the legislation will be enforced on December 19,
00:03:36.720 and the CRTC will have to examine which platforms fall under the legislation.
00:03:43.440 And I'm sure that CRTC will pay close attention to Facebook and Meta.
00:03:47.880 Is the government prepared to do anything to get Meta back to the table?
00:03:53.020 We're looking at every tool that we can use to persuade Facebook and Meta that their platform is better with news content on it.
00:04:01.540 And there was a survey in Quebec, and we're going to try to see if the numbers are the same across Canada.
00:04:09.020 But what we've seen in Quebec is that more and more people are thinking about cancelling their account because they no longer can find good content on Facebook and Meta.
00:04:17.860 The Quebecers are questioning more and more the quality of what they have access to on Facebook and Meta.
00:04:24.860 I've said right from the beginning that the decision that Mark Zuckerberg took to cut news and fact-based content on their platform is,
00:04:34.560 you know, leaving their platform to misinformation and disinformation.
00:04:37.600 It's also a rupture with the social contract that the platform has with Canadians that they can share whatever they want with their families and friends.
00:04:45.960 But now the only content that they cannot share is good quality journalism.
00:04:50.880 This is not the right approach for the platform, and I hope that they see the common sense in that.
00:04:58.100 What tools are you using, Minister, to bring Meta back to the table or to get them to comply?
00:05:02.920 Well, the law will be enforced on December 19.
00:05:06.640 So the CRTC will have to examine whether the platform does fall under the legislation because, yes, they are trying to ban news,
00:05:16.800 but we know that Canadians find ways to share news anyways.
00:05:21.560 So their ban is not really fully working.
00:05:24.440 So will they fall under the legislation or not?
00:05:27.100 The CRTC needs to pay attention to that.
00:05:31.240 They're independent, but the legislation is pretty clear.
00:05:34.560 So there's that.
00:05:36.580 Also, the broadcasters have filed a complaint at the Competition Bureau.
00:05:42.380 Again, it's another independent organization, but they will, I suppose, at some point review that complaint.
00:05:48.640 So we'll see what happens with that.
00:05:50.620 We've also, we're working on a new legislation.
00:05:53.620 I don't know if it's been voted yet or not, but to, you know, give new powers under the Competition Act.
00:06:02.600 So we'll see if that is helpful when it comes to Meta and Facebook.
00:06:06.900 By your estimation, how much does the ethnic media stand to gain from this?
00:06:11.120 I don't have a precise answer, but any media that falls under the eligibility criteria, any media that hires full-time journalists will be able to participate.
00:06:24.640 There will be a process where any news outlets that are interested in reaching a deal with Google or being part of the collective.
00:06:32.580 There will be a period of time where they raise their hand, come forward, and the collective will have the obligation to represent any news outlets that falls under the legislation.
00:06:44.140 Merci beaucoup.
00:06:45.780 Joyeuse fête tout le monde.
00:06:47.280 Happy holidays.
00:06:48.180 Merci pour votre travail.
00:06:49.060 Bye-bye.