Skip to Main content

13.73°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jun 22, 2023 9:21 PM - The Canadian Press

Liberal bill requiring Google and Meta to pay for news content passes in Senate

Share On

liberal-bill-requiring-google-and-meta-to-pay-for-news-content-passes-in-senate

Meta is undergoing a test that blocks news for up to five per cent of its Canadian users, and Google ran a similar test earlier this year. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

A federal bill that will require Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news content that they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms is set to become law.

The Senate has passed the bill in a final vote and it is now awaiting royal assent amid a standoff between the Liberal government and Silicon Valley tech giants.

Ottawa, which says the law creates a level playing field between online advertising giants and the shrinking news industry, is now waiting to see if Meta or Google will react by removing journalism from their platforms in Canada.

Meta has said it plans to comply with the bill by ending news availability on Facebook and Instagram for its Canadian users, while Google has hinted that removing news links from its popular search engine is a possibility.

Meta is undergoing a test that blocks news for up to five per cent of its Canadian users, and Google ran a similar test earlier this year.

The Online News Act requires both companies to enter into agreements with news publishers to pay them for news content that appears on their sites if it helps the tech giants generate money.

Latest news

vancouver-downtown-eastside-stabbing-police-search-for-suspect

Vancouver Downtown Eastside stabbing: Police search for suspect

Police are searching for a suspect after a man was stabbed in the neck in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. According to police, the incident happened around 11:40 p.m. Sunday near Main Street and East Hastings Street. The victim suffered serious injuries but was taken to hospital and is now in stable condition. Constable Darren Wong said the attack was not random, adding that the suspect and victim knew each other. The suspect fled the scene following the stabbing and remains at large. Vancouver Police are asking the public for assistance. The suspect is described as a Caucasian man between 30

Tight Race in B.C., Conservatives Lead with 48% Support

The British Columbia provincial election is expected to see a tight contest between the two major parties. According to a new opinion poll by the Angus Reid Institute, the BC Conservatives are currently leading the BC NDP by five percentage points, with 48 per cent voter support. However, the Conservatives’ lead has narrowed from eight points on September 24. The latest poll shows 43 per cent of voters supporting the BC NDP. The survey also suggests that BC NDP Leader David Eby’s strategy of making U.S. tariffs and the threat posed by President Donald Trump a key election issue may not be

AlbertaOct 06, 2026

$30M Worth of Illegal Cigarettes Seized in Alberta’s Westlock Area

Alberta RCMP have seized an estimated $30 million worth of illegal cigarettes following a months-long investigation in the Westlock area. A 50-year-old Westlock man has been arrested and charged with multiple offences. Police began the investigation in January after receiving information that unstamped cigarettes were being sold in the Westlock area. During the investigation, an undercover officer purchased cigarettes from a store called The Boutique. Search warrants were executed on June 17 and 18. On September 15, police searched a rural property in Westlock County and arrested the suspect.

power-shift-in-quebec-as-pq-set-to-form-minority-government

CanadaOct 06, 2026

Power Shift in Quebec as PQ Set to Form Minority Government

The Parti Québécois is set to form a minority government in Quebec after winning 59 seats in the provincial election, marking a major shift in the province’s political landscape. PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will become Quebec’s next premier. In his victory speech, Plamondon described the result as the beginning of a new chapter and said he believes Quebec’s long-standing separatist aspirations could eventually be realized. The election result also dealt a major blow to the Coalition Avenir Québec, which had governed the province for the past eight years. The party failed to win

One B.C. Unveils Election Platform With Tax Cuts, DRIPA Repeal Promises

The Dallas Brodie-led One B.C. Party has released its platform for the B.C. provincial election, outlining a series of promises aimed at improving the province’s economy, social services and health-care system. Key commitments include cutting all personal income tax brackets and corporate taxes by 25 per cent, along with reducing the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) by two percentage points. The party also promises to remove SOGI from schools and introduce a Parental Bill of Rights. One B.C. is also pledging tougher action against drugs and crime. Its top platform commitment is to repeal the Decla

Related News

Power Shift in Quebec as PQ Set to Form Minority Government

Power Shift in Quebec as PQ Set to Form Minority Government

The Parti Québécois is set to form a minority government in Quebec after winning 59 seats in the provincial election, marking a major shift in the province’s political landscape. PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will become Quebec’s next premier. In his victory speech, Plamondon described the result as the beginning of a new chapter and said he believes Quebec’s long-standing separatist aspirations could eventually be realized. The election result also dealt a major blow to the Coalition Avenir Québec, which had governed the province for the past eight years. The party failed to win

Canada’s Services Sector Contracts for Fourth Straight Month, Businesses Remain Optimistic About Future

Canada’s Services Sector Contracts for Fourth Straight Month, Businesses Remain Optimistic About Future

Canada’s services sector continued to contract in September, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. According to the S&P Global Canada Services PMI, released Monday, the headline business activity index improved slightly to 48.3 in September, up from 46.8 in August, but remained below the key 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. Experts attributed the weakness to ongoing tariff disputes, U.S. restrictions on Canadian products and global uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East. However, there was some positive news as Canadian companies remained optimisti

Canada-India Begin Fifth Round of Trade Talks in Ottawa

Canada-India Begin Fifth Round of Trade Talks in Ottawa

Canada and India have begun the fifth round of trade negotiations in Ottawa, with International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu confirming that the talks got underway today. Sidhu highlighted the strength of India’s economy, saying it is growing at an annual rate of 7%. He also noted that India’s energy needs are expected to increase by up to 70% by 2035, adding that Canada could play an important role in meeting that demand. The chief negotiators from both countries are working to finalize a free trade agreement by the end of this year. The latest round of talks in Ottawa will continue unti

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital