Future of Canadian News Media

Honourable senators, I rise today to speak to Senator Cardozo’s inquiry calling the attention of the Senate to the future of Canadian news media and its long-term funding model.

I want to begin by thanking Senator Cardozo for bringing this important matter before us and for his ongoing work on this issue, including his most recent report published last month entitled Making News Media Sustainable: Options for the Long Term. Few issues are as central to the health of our democracy as the strength, independence and sustainability of our press.

Earlier this month, on May 3, we marked World Press Freedom Day, an annual observance proclaimed by the United Nations to promote access to reliable information and to safeguard independent journalism. This day is not merely symbolic; it is a timely reminder of our collective responsibility to uphold the fundamental principles of a free press, to defend the media from threats to its independence and to ensure the free flow of ideas and information by word and image.

Today, that responsibility feels more urgent than ever.

There is no denying that journalism is under significant strain. We are living in an era when the lines between fact and opinion, journalism and commentary, are increasingly blurred. Sensationalism often drives engagement, and engagement drives revenue. In such an environment, it is not surprising that credible, fact-based journalism is struggling to compete. This is not only a Canadian challenge but a global one. Yet, in a thriving democracy, a strong and independent press is not optional; it is essential. Today, that ecosystem is under pressure.

The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, amplified by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, has eroded public trust and created widespread uncertainty.

Canadians are increasingly questioning whether the news they are getting is reliable. I’m one of them. Just staying informed has become harder, more complicated, more uncertain and, sometimes, more destabilizing, and this trend is picking up speed.

Ironically, as confusion sets in, demand for credible, vetted journalism keeps growing. Canadians are looking for trustworthy sources. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. It signals a need not only to preserve our traditional media institutions, but also to make sure that they’re able to thrive in a changing digital landscape.

While I do not pretend to have all the answers, I would like to focus my remarks today on a segment of the media ecosystem that is particularly vulnerable yet profoundly important and dear to my heart: our local, regional and ethnic media outlets. These outlets play a unique and indispensable role. They tell the stories of our communities, reflect our diversity and provide information that is often overlooked by larger national platforms.

Canadians today consume news in many ways. Statistics Canada reported that, as early as 2020, the internet had become the primary source of news, followed by television, radio and print. More recent data suggests that a significant majority of Canadians — 86% — continue to engage with newspapers, whether in print or digital form. This demonstrates that, despite changing habits, there remains a strong appetite for curated, credible journalism.

However, the structure of the media industry has shifted dramatically. Consolidation, coupled with the dominance of large digital platforms, has profoundly disrupted traditional revenue models. Local and ethnic outlets, in particular, have borne the brunt of this transformation. According to News Media Canada, more than 600 news outlets closed in 288 communities across the country between 2008 and 2025. While new outlets have emerged, the overall trend points to volatility and decline. Many communities are now at risk of becoming “news deserts,” with limited access to local reporting.

That should concern us all.

In fact, I welcome the work of the House Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which is conducting a new study on the state of journalism and media sectors in Canada.

I have seen first-hand the vital role that ethnic media plays in connecting communities. Since my appointment to the Senate, I have made it a priority to contribute a monthly column to Italian-language newspapers across Canada. It is one way to remain connected and to support a sector that continues to serve as a cultural and informational bridge for many Canadians.

However, these outlets are under immense pressure. Many operate with limited staff and resources. Advertising revenues are declining sharply, and in some cases operations are sustained only through the support of other businesses. Their survival is far from guaranteed.

There is no single solution to this complex challenge. However, there are practical steps we can consider.

One such step relates to government advertising. Each year, the Government of Canada reports on its advertising expenditures. The most recent data shows that of the $64 million spent on media placement through its agency of record, nearly $41 million was directed to digital platforms, leaving approximately $23.5 million for traditional media. Of that, only a small fraction — about $222,000 — was allocated to print media, a dramatic decline from previous years. In fact, the year before, that number stood at $1.38 million. Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, funding from this program for print media went from 6% of all expenditures to only 1%.

This shift is understandable given changing consumption patterns. However, it also raises an important question: Are we doing enough to support the very institutions that produce reliable, public-interest journalism?

Evidence suggests that Canadians continue to value print media, including for advertising; yet, private sector support alone is no longer sufficient to sustain many outlets. A thoughtful recalibration of government advertising practices could make a meaningful difference. Increasing the share of advertising directed toward local and print media would not only provide financial support to struggling outlets but also reinvest public dollars into local economies and strengthen trusted sources of information.

In his recent report, Senator Cardozo notes that a recurring public policy recommendation is to establish a dedicated stream of government advertising to support news journalism.

Consistent with his findings and with my own views, one practical option would be for all levels of government, particularly the federal government, to commit at least 50% of advertising expenditures to Canadian news organizations, with clear criteria to ensure broad and equitable distribution of those ad placements.

The findings for Quebec are just as troubling. Both the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture and the Confédération des syndicats nationaux have examined this issue.

Consultations held in 2025 revealed a dramatic decline in ad revenue, which dropped 75% over 10 years, meaning a loss of nearly $800 million for news media. Much of that revenue shifted to major digital platforms.

In response, the group made a number of recommendations. For example, it urged the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada to adopt a responsible advertising policy that supports news media and to stop doing business with web-based multinationals that don’t comply with the spirit of Canada’s current tax regime.

It is imperative that we think about how public funds can do more to support a diverse media ecosystem anchored in our communities.

I support that recommendation, and I urge the government to re-evaluate its ad placement strategy. I understand why it would prioritize digital platforms. They have reach. However, I remain convinced that by recalibrating those investments, the government can achieve a second and even third objective.

First, it would provide concrete support to local and ethnic media outlets, which play a role in our communities. Second, it would promote better circulation of public funds within our local economies, contributing to their vitality.

Lastly, it would bolster media outlets that are committed to journalistic rigour, that value truth, that actively fight disinformation and misinformation, and that focus on facts and issues that are relevant to our communities.

To be clear, I am not suggesting that increased government advertising alone will resolve the challenges facing the sector, particularly the smaller players, but it is a tangible, immediate measure — one that signals leadership and commitment.

I also welcome the $38 million in federal investments — as announced in Budget 2025 — for the Canada Periodical Fund to support small and community media outlets. This funding provides much-needed financial support to Canadian publishers of print magazines and print community newspapers to enable them to overcome market disadvantages.

However, despite these efforts and other commitments to support the sector, the situation remains fragile, and in many respects, it is worsening.

Honourable senators, we are living in a moment defined by information — its abundance, its accessibility and, increasingly, its unreliability. In such a context, a free, independent and healthy press is not a luxury. It is a cornerstone of democratic life.

The decline of local and ethnic media is not just an industry issue; it is a democratic one. When communities lose their newspapers, they lose more than headlines. They lose accountability, shared understanding and a sense of connection. The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. We must act — deliberately and collaboratively — to ensure that credible journalism not only survives but thrives.

This means rethinking our policies, aligning our public investments with our democratic values and standing firmly in support of those who work every day to inform Canadians with accuracy and integrity.

I therefore call on the government to urgently review and modernize its advertising strategy with a view to better supporting local, regional and ethnic media. Perhaps it could be inspired by what the Government of Ontario did in 2024 when it directed the largest four government agencies to allocate a minimum of 25% of their more than $100 million in annual advertising spending for Ontario publishers.

Finally, honourable senators, I call on all of us in this chamber and beyond to champion a free and independent press and to recognize its value, to defend its role and to ensure its future. Because without a strong press, there can be no strong democracy.

Thank you.