Four in five Canadians support having the Government of Canada encourage Google and Facebook to negotiate with Canadian news organizations for fair payment reflecting the value of their news content, a Nanos poll shows.

The survey, conducted on behalf of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), also found that close to two in three Canadians are more confident in Canadian news organizations than they are in Google and Facebook working in their best interests. Nine in 10 Canadians agreed that access to local, regional, national, and international news from Canadian news sources is important to them.

The questions were included as part of a Nanos Research omnibus survey conducted in October. Respondents were asked whether:

  • Being able to access local, regional, national, and international news from Canadian news sources is important to them,
  • They support or oppose Google and Facebook paying nothing to Canadian news organizations for the value of their news content,
  • They support or oppose having the Government of Canada encourage Google and Facebook to negotiate with Canadian news organizations for fair payment reflecting the value of their work, and whether
  • They are confident Facebook, Google, and Canadian news organizations each work in the best interests of Canadians.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

As the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage continues its study of Bill C-18, which would provide the necessary framework for fair negotiation between news organizations and online platforms, the CAB is pleased to see that the majority of Canadians agree news organizations, including private broadcasters, should be fairly compensated for user interaction with their content.

Canada’s private broadcasters are Canadians’ most frequently accessed and trusted source for news, and we will continue to advocate on their behalf to ensure the value of their work is recognized.