CRTC given $8.5M for online news regulation as critics question its capability

A person navigates to the on-line social-media pages of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on a cell phone in Ottawa on Monday, May 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa is giving $8.5 million to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to develop a regulatory regime covering the reuse of journalism by digital giants.

Experts question whether the regulator has the expertise or background to regulate digital platforms that make money from reusing online news.

If a federal bill becomes law, digital companies including Google will have six months to negotiate private deals to compensate Canadian media outlets for reusing their news content, or be forced to reach an agreement.

The CRTC says it has a strong track record and can adapt its approach to the evolving news market.

It says it will be working with the Treasury Board, which oversees government spending, to obtain enough resources to fulfil its new duties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2022.