OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated on Tuesday that he may consider revising or repealing the Online News Act. This comes two years after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, banned Canadian users from accessing news articles on its platforms. Carney's comments were made during a press conference where he announced over $1 billion in loan guarantees and long-term support for the softwood lumber industry at a mill in West Kelowna, British Columbia.

At the beginning of the conference, Carney addressed the severe impact of wildfires this summer, including a recent incident that led to the evacuation of approximately 400 properties near West Kelowna. When asked if the government is contemplating an alternative to the Online News Act, previously known as C-18, or if it might simply rescind the law to encourage Meta to lift its news ban, Carney stated that this was “part of our thinking around” enhancing the reach of local media.

“This government is a big believer in the value of … local news and the importance of ensuring that that is disseminated as widely and as quickly as possible. So, we will look for all avenues to do that,” Carney said.

The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately clarify which specific options the government is considering to improve local news dissemination. Meta's ban on news articles was a direct response to the Online News Act, which requires social media companies to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with news publishers for the use of their content. While both Meta and Google were affected by the legislation, they have taken different approaches to address it. Meta opted to ban news content entirely, while Google signed a $100 million annual deal with Canadian publishers last year.

Meta has criticized the notion that it benefits from free online news articles, arguing that media companies gain from sharing their content with Facebook and Instagram users. Following Meta's news ban, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the company of prioritizing profits over public safety. He stated, “Instead of making sure that local journalists are fairly paid for keeping Canadians informed on things like wildfires, Facebook is blocking news from its sites.” He emphasized the importance of timely local information during emergencies.

During the press conference, Carney also reiterated his government's commitment to increase funding for CBC/Radio-Canada and to reform its governance. This is aimed at ensuring the broadcaster can provide “unbiased, immediate, local information” during crises, such as the ongoing wildfires in British Columbia. Carney pledged to increase the public broadcaster's funding by $150 million annually.

Meta has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Carney's statements.