Most Canadians prioritize federal funding for urgent needs like affordable housing over media subsidies for failing news outlets, according to research conducted by the Privy Council. A recent poll commissioned by Ottawa revealed that few Canadians supported the government’s financial support for the news industry, just weeks before newsroom payroll rebates were increased to an additional $129 million. The survey findings indicated that while Canadians valued widespread access to news in their preferred language, they did not consider the news industry a top priority at the moment.
Respondents pointed out that Canadians already had access to a variety of news sources across multiple platforms and suggested that the government should focus on more pressing issues such as housing affordability and the cost of living. The research, based on focus group questionnaires conducted under an $814,741 contract with The Strategic Counsel, showed that many participants were indifferent to news outlets cutting jobs or going bankrupt as long as major sources like CBC, CTV News, and Global News continued to provide information.
The average Canadian spends around 30 minutes to an hour daily following current events on platforms like television, the internet, and radio, the report revealed. Many participants also noted that news outlets had become more opinion-oriented and sensationalized in recent years, making it challenging to discern the truth in a story. The Privy Council also gauged public support for Bill C-18, the Online News Act, which requires tech companies to pay Canadian media outlets for news content shared on their platforms. The legislation inadvertently led to Canadians losing access to news content on Meta’s platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Participants had mixed reactions to the legislation, with support coming from Northern Quebec and opposition mainly from Toronto and mid-sized cities. Supporters believed that securing more funding for locally-based news outlets was vital for their sustainability, while opponents argued that making digital platforms pay for news might decrease the amount of news available to Canadians on social media.