Stakeholder engagement on fair revenue sharing between digital platforms and news media

Canadians need access to news and information on matters of public importance, including information regarding health, education and political life, in order to fully benefit and participate in democratic society. News and journalism serve to inform communities, drive civic engagement and counter the rise of disinformation on digital platforms – thereby playing an essential role in the vitality of democracy in Canada. However, the health of the Canadian news and information ecosystem is at risk. At least one-third of Canadian journalism jobs have disappeared since 2010, and many Canadian news media businesses are shrinking, having to cut costs and jobs, and even closing altogether. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the crisis and exacerbated the decline in advertising revenue which, historically, has been a key source of revenue for many news outlets.