Skip to Main content

8.29°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Oct 6, 2023 6:37 PM - The Canadian Press

Online News Act not perfect but necessary: Heritage Minister

Share On

online-news-act-not-perfect-but-necessary-heritage-minister

Facebook parent company Meta has maintained that the legislation is based on the false premise that Meta and others unfairly benefit from news content, and that the only way it can reasonably comply with the law is to end news availability in Canada. (Photo: X/Pascale St-Onge )

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge says that while the Online News Act isn't perfect, the media landscape is changing too fast for the government to wait any longer.

Speaking at the MINDS international news agency conference in Toronto, St-Onge said that the government intends to stand firm with the law that will force Facebook and Google to pay for news links on their websites.

She says Facebook is using intimidation tactics by removing all news links in Canada before the act is even in force, and encouraged other countries to also take action against tech giants to protect news.

Facebook parent company Meta has maintained that the legislation is based on the false premise that Meta and others unfairly benefit from news content, and that the only way it can reasonably comply with the law is to end news availability in Canada.

Google has kept a more open dialogue with the government, and St-Onge said she had heard the company's concern about knowing how much they'll have to pay under the law.

St-Onge says that part of the challenge is that the government waited too long to regulate digital platforms, so it's starting with this law and can adapt it over time.

Latest news

B.C. Rental Protection Fund surpasses goal, secures nearly 2,200 homes

More than 2,000 homes in British Columbia are now protected under the province’s Rental Protection Fund, giving thousands of renters greater housing stability and access to affordable rents. Launched in 2023 with a $500-million provincial investment, the fund works with non-profit housing providers to purchase rental buildings at risk of being sold to the private market. This approach helps ensure tenants can remain in their homes and communities without facing sudden rent increases or evictions. The fund originally aimed to secure 2,000 homes over three years. That target has been exceeded

nanaimo-rcmp-arrest-man-following-break-in-on-waterfront-vessel

Nanaimo RCMP arrest man following break‑in on waterfront vessel

Nanaimo RCMP have arrested an adult man after a series of incidents that began with an attempted theft at a Port Place Mall grocery store and ended with an alleged break‑and‑enter on a privately owned vessel along the city’s waterfront. Police say the situation began around 2:45 PM at Thrifty Foods, where staff reported a man tried to leave the store with unpaid items. When confronted by store security, the suspect allegedly threatened a Loss Prevention Officer. Shortly afterward, the same individual was observed boarding a tugboat moored nearby. Officers who responded reported that he b

prince-george-rcmp-investigate-early-morning-shooting-on-ahbau-street

Prince George RCMP Investigate Early-Morning Shooting on Ahbau Street

Prince George RCMP are investigating a shooting that took place shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, on the 600-block of Ahbau Street. Officers responding to the scene confirmed that no residents were injured during the incident. The early stages of the investigation suggest the shooting was targeted, and authorities say there is no ongoing risk to the public. Ahbau Street was temporarily closed while officers conducted their initial work but has since been reopened. Cst. Jenna Moore, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP, urged anyone who witnessed the incident or noti

trump-signals-tariff-cut-for-india-after-pledge-to-halt-russian-oil-imports

WorldFeb 02, 2026

Trump signals tariff cut for India after pledge to halt Russian oil imports

U.S. President Donald Trump says his administration plans to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, down from the current 25 per cent, after India agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia. The announcement follows months of pressure from Washington urging New Delhi to reduce its reliance on discounted Russian crude amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. India has been one of the world’s largest buyers of Russian oil since Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, taking advantage of lower prices as many Western countries moved to restrict energy trade with Russia. The issue has been a

pakistan-says-145-militants-killed-in-security-crackdown-after-deadly-balochistan-attacks

WorldFeb 02, 2026

Pakistan says 145 militants killed in security crackdown after deadly Balochistan attacks

Pakistan’s security forces say they have killed about 145 militants in a series of counter-operations across the southwestern province of Balochistan, following coordinated attacks that left around 50 people dead. The provincial government says the operations were launched shortly after the assaults, which targeted multiple locations early Saturday. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the army and police responded swiftly after the attacks, which were later claimed by the banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army. He stated that those killed in the security operation were

Related News

Three arrested after early-morning shooting tied to extortion concerns in Surrey

Three arrested after early-morning shooting tied to extortion concerns in Surrey

Surrey police say three men were taken into custody early Sunday after a shooting outside a home in the Crescent Beach area, an incident investigators believe may be connected to ongoing extortion activity in the city. Officers on patrol shortly before 4 a.m. were alerted to reports of gunfire and a small fire near 132 Street and Crescent Road. Police say the suspects were initially linked to a vehicle at the scene but fled on foot before being arrested nearby after entering a ride-share vehicle. The Surrey Police Service says a brief fire outside the residence was quickly extinguished by Surr

GST credit boost and one-time payment to cost Ottawa $12.4 billion, budget watchdog says

GST credit boost and one-time payment to cost Ottawa $12.4 billion, budget watchdog says

Ottawa’s plan to temporarily boost the federal GST credit and issue a one-time payment to Canadians is expected to cost $12.4 billion over five years, according to new estimates from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The budget watchdog says the proposed one-time payment, expected this spring, would cost the federal government just over $3 billion in the current fiscal year. Ongoing increases to the GST credit are projected to add between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion per year through 2031. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the measures last week as part of the federal gover

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital