says Glacier, rivals sign separate deals with Google
2021-07-13 08:33 ET - In the News
The National Post reports in its Tuesday, July 13, edition that Unifor president Jerry Dias says there is no reason why the federal government cannot swiftly introduce -- and pass -- legislation to level the playing field between conventional media and big tech.
The Post's Tyler Dawson writes that Unifor represents journalists in newsrooms across Canada, including the National Post. Mr. Dias says the Liberals must pass legislation to force tech giants like Google and Facebook to pay for news content in order to protect Canadian media companies -- and democracy.
Parliament has risen for the summer, and it is unclear whether it will meaningfully return to work before an election is called.
The government's controversial Bill C-10 would regulate streaming services and social platforms.
In late June, several media outlets and chains signed separate deals with Google. Among them, The Globe and Mail, Winnipeg Free Press, British Columbia's Black Press and Glacier Media, Quebec's Metro Media and Nova Scotia's Saltwire Network. Mr. Dias sees Google "implementing the oldest tactic in the world, the old divide-and-conquer tactic."
He says, "You can't have a democracy in any nation unless you have a strong media."