CBC/Radio-Canada must be excluded from sharing the $100 million per year that Google will pay to the media under an agreement with Ottawa, argues Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications, Mathieu Lacombe.
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“For the moment, we still have very few details, but I must say that it is certainly good news. I think it’s a step in the right direction to support our Quebec media,” reacted Minister Lacombe, the day after the deal concluded between the Trudeau government and Google.
As part of this settlement, which follows the adoption of the Online News Act requiring web giants to pay royalties, Google will pay $100 million annually, an amount that will be indexed to inflation, Canadian media.
While waiting to know how this sum will be distributed, the Quebec government is making two requests.
“The first is that it is aimed at private media which are losing advertising revenue. So I think that CBC/Radio-Canada should be excluded from this revenue sharing,” said Mr. Lacombe.
“The second is that the Quebec government must have a say in how revenues will be shared,” he continued.
If the money is paid into a fund, Quebec would like to receive its share to give to the Quebec media.
“There is a solution: repatriate the powers in culture and communications from the federal government and create a Media Fund,” commented solidarity MP Ruba Ghazal.
“It is no longer enough to whine at the federal government, we must take action. Are you ready?” asked M.me Ghazal to Mr. Lacombe on the social network