Online News Bill C-18 passed the third reading in the House of Commons on 14 December. It passed with 213 votes in favour, 114 against and is now before the Senate. The majority of Conservative MPs opposed its adoption, including Bernard Généreux, MP for Montmagny-L’Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup riding.

MNA Bernard Généreux denies he does not want to support the local press and fears that the majority of potential revenue related to Bill C-18 will be paid to the largest information players in Canada, leaving only crumbs for the local media.

“There is a division in this bill that is very unhealthy […] Freedom of expression is one of the foundations of our democracy. It’s not just a question of money, we don’t bend over it. We must ensure that there is a fair distribution between rural areas and big cities, between the big and the small,” explains Bernard Généreux MP.

This bill affects online communication platforms that make news content available to people in Canada. It affects all producers of online news. According to the Department of Canadian Heritage, Bill C-18 would require tech giants like Google and Facebook to enter into fair trade deals with the media for news and information published on their platforms.

“These agreements should provide fair compensation, respect journalistic independence, and invest in the diversity of Canada’s news media, including independent local media,” summarizes the Department of Canadian Heritage. It is inspired by a similar law passed in Australia, the News Media Bargaining Code.

According to Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, the problem is bigger than the compensation paid to Canadian media. “It’s really about protecting the future of the free and independent press. […] ensure Canadians have access to factual information […] to protect the strength of our democracy, and this, by the way, is one of the most important legacies we can leave to future generations, who will see the Internet and new technologies taking up more and more of their lives. » He said he wanted to work with tech giants.

An independent analytical report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, presented in October 2022, estimated that compensation for private and public broadcasters could reach $247 million, while eligible Canadian journalist organizations could receive $81 million, for a total compensation of $329 million per year.

Conservative MP Bernard Généreux believes that the definitions contained in the draft law are too broad. He fears that “everyone in his basement who calls himself a journalist” could benefit from compensation. The Conservative amendments were rejected. “C-18, like all Liberal government legislation, is hasty and inadequate. They are imperfect,” says Mr. Généreux. He adds that Bill C-18 gives the CRTC too much power.

Following the introduction of Bill C-18 last October, Meta (owner of Facebook) threatened to restrict news sharing on social media. “If this law is passed, resulting in unprecedented forms of financial liability for links or news content worldwide, we may be forced to reconsider allowing news content to be shared on Facebook in Canada, as defined in the Online News Act.” Meta laments that Under the law, they would have to pay news organizations for content that “publishers voluntarily place on Facebook.”