The Canadian government is engaged in ongoing discussions with Meta regarding the potential reinstatement of online news on Facebook as part of the preparations for the review of CUSMA. According to Hermine Landry, press secretary to Culture Minister Mark Miller, discussions with digital platforms have been regular since the implementation of the Online News Act in 2023, which mandates tech giants like Google and Meta to compensate media outlets for shared news content.
In a recent development, Google and the government reached an agreement in the autumn of 2023 that ensured the continued sharing of Canadian news by Google online, with annual payments totaling $100 million to news organizations. Conversely, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, opted to remove all news from its platforms as a means to avoid fees payable to news providers under the Online News Act.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer highlighted the Online News Act as a trade concern, alongside other issues such as improved dairy access, provincial restrictions on U.S. alcohol sales, and the Online Streaming Act. Greer emphasized that the resolution of these trade irritants will influence the upcoming CUSMA review set to commence formally in July.
Culture Minister Mark Miller, acknowledging the U.S. administration’s stance on online streaming and news legislation, affirmed that Canada is actively engaging with Meta to explore avenues for enabling Canadians to access news online. Dominic LeBlanc, the minister overseeing Canada-U.S. trade relations, is leading the discussions with Meta, with details of the talks remaining confidential.
Miller, in a recent interview, expressed Canada’s willingness to be adaptable concerning the Online News Act while ensuring that the U.S. does not unilaterally dictate the terms of flexibility. He stressed the importance of safeguarding news providers in the evolving digital landscape as a core objective of the legislation.