Online News Notice of Consultation CRTC 2024-143-2

Ottawa, 19 August 2024

Call for comments – Application for exemption from the Online News Act by Google – Extension to the deadline to file replies and addition of two replies to the record of the proceeding

Following the issuance of Online News Notices of Consultation 2024-143 and 2024-143-1, the Commission received a procedural request from the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) for an extension of time to file its reply, from 19 August to 23 August 2024.
Subsequent to that request, the Commission received a procedural request from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) seeking an extension of time to file replies until 26 August 2024. PIAC/FRPC stated that they supported the CJC’s request, on condition that any extension be granted to all parties.
The Commission considers that extending the deadline to file replies would result in a more full and complete record of this proceeding, and that it would be in the public interest to extend the deadline. It further considers that, in the interest of fairness, all parties should benefit from the extension. Accordingly, for all parties, the Commission extends the deadline for replies to 26 August 2024.

As stated in paragraph 42 of Online News Notice of Consultation 2024-143, only those parties who filed comments would be permitted to file a reply.
On 12 August 2024 and 13 August 2024, respectively, the Commission received replies from The Logic Inc. and Great West Media, neither of whom submitted comments during the intervention period.
The Commission considers, however, that the replies are narrowly focused and contribute to a more full and complete record, addressing only information provided by other parties during the comment period. In the Commission’s view, inclusion of these replies as part of this proceeding would be in the public interest without being unfair to the parties.
Accordingly, the Commission will add the replies from The Logic Inc. and Great West Media to the record of the proceeding.

Secretary General