Canada's Bill C-18 became law in June, which requires giant tech companies to compensate media outlets if they want to host Canadian news content on their platforms. This framework has been rejected by these tech giants, resulting in the ban of news outlets from the platforms entirely. Moving forward, users will no longer be able to consume news on Facebook, Instagram or Google and will need to seek other ways to stay informed on important news and events happening in their own backyard. 

The first to be affected by this change are the small media outlets, as they heavily rely on these platforms to increase website traffic, content clicks, consumer engagement and support. As impressions and clicks inevitably decline, their capacity to secure paid advertising also diminishes, as advertisers often pay based on the number of users who view and interact with their content.

This ban poses significant challenges for both independently owned media and the Canadian public. The local media outlets you know and love will bear the brunt of this change and they have less resources and support to rely on. The potential consequences of inaction not only threaten the media landscape's diversity, but also compromise the public's right to be well-informed. 

Although you can no longer see or hear from us through Meta & Google, you can still support us by:

-Signing this petition

-Reaching out to your MP (use our template here)

-Following us on LinkedIn​, Twitter & TikTok

-Subscribing to our eNewsletter

-Downloading our app

-Bookmarking KelownaNow

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate through these challenging times!