Dear Meta and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,
I am writing this as both a concerned Canadian citizen living in Kelowna and someone deeply connected to the media ecosystem for over 30 years. Recent events, namely the introduction of Bill C-18 and its subsequent consequences, have left many of us, including local businesses and community members, both perplexed and deeply concerned.
Facebook and its affiliated platforms have embedded themselves into the Canadian lifestyle, serving as a primary news source for 77% of us. But this isn't just about numbers; it's about real communities. Take, for instance, the recent wildfires ravaging various parts of Canada. Communication during such a crisis isn’t just key, it's a lifeline.
In a time of chaos, it’s difficult enough to get the important information you need. Both Meta and the Canadian government had an opportunity, if not a moral obligation, to put aside their differences, even momentarily, for the sake of Canadian safety. That did not happen. Instead, the public was left grappling with a void of communication comparatively speaking and had to figure out how to obtain it.
At times, despite being in a local and provincial state of emergency, we had and still get network news about the fire in Yellowknife or music at times. Although platforms like KelownaNow.com rose to the challenge, the added layer of anxiety and confusion was palpable early on. Local digital media outlets and citizens have been working to fill the gaps.
I do not speak to this lightly. Back in 2003, I oversaw SUN FM (now Virgin) and AM1150's coverage of the Okanagan Mountain Park fire that resulted in the second-largest evacuation in Canadian history. I fondly remember how different media entities, from radio to newspapers, collaborated seamlessly. There was a unique sense of camaraderie and a shared commitment to serve the community. I miss that.
The decision to have the CRTC regulate the internet is puzzling. It feels less about maintaining the integrity of news and more about controlling narratives and money. The potential distribution of revenues from Bill C-18 further complicates matters. The CBC and larger corporately controlled entities seem poised to benefit while independent platforms like KelownaNow.com, which operates without government subsidies, are sidelined. Wouldn't it be more logical and transparent for entities like Meta to directly compensate content creators? This situation feels like yet another example of excessive government controls gone awry.
While it is too early to know if anyone has died because of our government’s heavy-handed approach, the time is now for Prime Minister Trudeau and new Heritage Minister Pascale St.Onge to reconsider this suppression of information. And while they may make this a political issue, it is indeed, not.
Our hope is for a media landscape where big and small platforms alike can co-exist and serve our communities without undue restrictions. We, at KelownaNow, strive to bring news and stories in our unique voice, filling the gaps where we see them.
So I ask, Prime Minister Trudeau and Heritage Minister St. Onge, on behalf of our organization and those affected by these natural disasters - hear our pleas and reconsider your approach with Bill C-18 by putting a moratorium on your demands of Meta. At least until a better path that doesn’t leave Canadians in the dark is forged.
And to our community, I ask you to participate by raising your voice. Please consider supporting OpenMedia.org’s petition to rethink C18. OpenMedia is a community-driven organization that works to keep the internet open, affordable and surveillance-free.
While I acknowledge the good coverage out there by our team and others, I yearn for the days the government didn’t interfere with freedom of speech. We hope we did our part during the worst nights, and continue to. Now, we humbly ask that Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister St. Onge, you do yours.
Yours sincerely,
Jason Mann
VP NowCities
KelownaNow.com
KamloopsNow.com
PentictonNow.com
VictoriaNow.com
CC: Jagmeet Singh, Tracy Gray, Dan Albas, Pierre Poilievre
