The Government of Canada recently enacted legislation impacting radio, television and print media. Under this new law, foreign news media broadcasters, and content creators, would have to pay fees or royalties of sort to report on Canadian news to the Canadian market. This law seriously disadvantages non-Canadian broadcasters, and will ultimately reduce choice. Furthermore, it is impossible to properly calculate and fairly enforce without a large, unwieldy bureaucracy.
Signal High News Corporation is steadfastly opposed to erecting walls and silos in journalism. We favour a free and uninhibited press. It is the cornerstone of democracy. Following is a press release issued by Signal High executives in response to this unfortunate direction.
| August 11, 2023
Re: Online News Act (Canada)
In recent months, the Government of Canada has passed a new law known as the Online News Act, formerly known in Canada as Bill C-18. In response to the overwhelming demand for comment, we issue the following statement:
Signal High News Corporation is of the respectful view that Canada has every right to determine its own path, to find its own way and to regulate its own citizens, industries and markets; however, we are deeply concerned that this highly contentious national policy may have serious consequences, potentially isolating Canada from the global media community at a time when we are all working to break down barriers and lift the iron curtain, so to speak.
We are proudly American. We are incorporated in the United States and the vast majority of our offices, assets and employees are in the United States. We are an independent news agency and subordinate to the laws of the United States. We will continue to report news that matters to our readers, listeners, viewers and subscribers around the world, including Canada. We will continue to deploy journalists to Canada. We will continue to sell advertising space to Canadian firms.
Nothing changes in this respect, at this time.
This being said, let it be known that Signal High News Corporation supports the actions taken by Meta, Facebook, Instagram, Google and other US media giants in response to what we all see as an isolating and protectionist policy – a slippery slope – a step toward trying to control the free press.
We fully anticipate that this is going to cost Canadian media in more ways than one, and strongly urge Canadian authorities to reconsider these measures, and to walk back the new law.
President of the Corporation
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