Implementing the Online News Act

The Online News Act (formerly Bill C-18) became law on June 22, 2023. The Act is intended to help Canadian news organizations reach fair commercial agreements with the largest online platforms, such as search engines and social media sites.

On December 15, 2023, the Department of Canadian Heritage published the Online News Act Application and Exemption Regulations, which help explain which platforms the Act applies to and how they can apply for exemptions.

Information bulletin

Learn more about the procedure that parties like news businesses and online platforms are to use when participating in consultations under the Act.

Our Plan

The Online News Act Application and Exemption Regulations gives the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the responsibility to administer a new mandatory bargaining process between news organizations in Canada and the largest online platforms that distribute their content. The Act also provides a path for platforms to receive an exemption from the mandatory bargaining process if they respect certain criteria. In spring 2024, the CRTC launched public consultations to gather the views of Canadians and interested parties on how to implement this new regulatory framework. See the List of digital news intermediaries who have notified the CRTC that the Act applies to them.

2023

June 22: Online News Act (Bill C-18) receives Royal Assent.
December 19: The Online News Act Application and Exemption Regulations come into force.

Spring 2024

Google’s open call to news organizations

April 30: Google holds an open call for news organizations that wish to receive compensation under the Online News Act.
May 27: The CRTC issues an information bulletin about the procedure that parties like news businesses and online platforms must follow when participating in consultations under the Act.
June 7: Google notifies the CRTC that the Online News Act applies to it and files an exemption request. Read Google’s notification (PDF, 336 KB).
June 16: Deadline for platforms to notify the CRTC if the Act applies to them.

Public consultations

Consultation about the regulatory framework for the Online News Act:

Status: Closed for comments.
Consultation on Cost Recovery Regulations: This consultation will look at how the CRTC will recover its costs for overseeing the Online News Act and how it will calculate and collect cost-recovery charges from online platforms.

Status: Closed for comments.

Summer and fall 2024

Public consultation

Consultation about Google’s exemption application: The application for exemption follows an agreement reached by Google and the Canadian Journalism Collective.

Status: Decision issued.
Consultation on the proposed code of conduct for bargaining: This consultation will look at rules for fair bargaining under the Act.

Status: Closed for comments.

Other activities

The CRTC will begin recruiting qualified independent arbitrators and begin information gathering.
The CRTC issued a call for proposals for an independent auditor, who will prepare an annual report on the impact of the Act on Canada’s digital news marketplace.

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