Prime Minister Mark Carney vaguely suggested that he may be open to repealing the Online News Act as an option to ensure local news sources are available to as many people as possible in emergencies.

Carney made the comments in an unrelated news conference in West Kelowna on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

The Online News Act forces big tech companies to compensate news organizations for sharing content through platforms such as Facebook and Google search. Google's parent company has cut a deal to pay for content, while Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has removed Canadian news content instead of paying.

Asked directly by a local reporter if he would consider repealing the act, Carney spoke first about the importance of CBC and Radio-Canada in providing coverage during emergencies, but then ad

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