Federal Polling Reveals Low Canadian Support for Government Subsidies for Media
According to internal research conducted by the Privy Council, most Canadians prioritize federal funding towards urgent needs like affordable housing over media subsidies to support failing news outlets.
Prior to doubling newsroom payroll rebates to an additional $129 million, Ottawa commissioned a poll. The survey, obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, revealed minimal support among Canadians for the government’s assistance to the news industry.
The report on poll results stated that while Canadians value accessible news in their preferred language, few consider the news industry a top priority. Many respondents believe that there are already ample news sources available on different platforms, with the federal government needing to focus on more pressing matters like housing affordability and the cost of living. The findings were based on focus group questionnaires conducted under an $814,741 contract with The Strategic Counsel.
Participants in the focus groups showed indifference when informed about news outlets cutting jobs or going bankrupt. Most participants expressed that major outlets like CBC, CTV News, and Global News continue to provide necessary information, minimizing the impact of other outlets’ decline in their view.
Regarding public support for Bill C-18, the Online News Act, passed by Parliament in June, the Privy Council conducted a poll. The legislation mandates tech companies to compensate Canadian media outlets for news content shared on their platforms, leading to Canadians losing access to news content on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram.
The average Canadian spends about 30 minutes to an hour daily keeping up with current events, primarily through television, the internet, and radio. Many polled Canadians also expressed concerns about news outlets becoming more opinionated and sensationalized in recent years.
Participants had mixed reactions to Bill C-18, with support in Northern Quebec and opposition in Toronto and mid-sized cities. Supporters viewed it as essential for sustaining local news operations, while opponents feared reduced access to news on social media platforms due to digital platforms being required to pay for news content.
