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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Global streamers fight CRTC's rule requiring them to fund Canadian content
Published Jun 08, 2025 • 4 minute read Fans are reflected in a Disney+ logo during the Walt Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif., Sept. 9, 2022. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP / FILES / Getty Images OTTAWA — Some of the world's biggest streaming companies will argue in court on Monday that they shouldn't have to make CRTC-ordered financial contributions to Canadian content and news. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The companies are fighting an order from the federal broadcast regulator that says they must pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to funds devoted to producing Canadian content, including local TV news. The case, which consolidates several appeals by streamers, will be heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto. Apple, Amazon and Spotify are fighting the CRTC's 2024 order. Motion Picture Association-Canada, which represents such companies as Netflix and Paramount, is challenging a section of the CRTC's order requiring them to contribute to local news. In December, the court put a pause on the payments _ estimated to be at least $1.25 million annually per company. Amazon, Apple and Spotify had argued that if they made the payments and then won the appeal and overturned the CRTC order, they wouldn't be able to recover the money. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In court documents, the streamers put forward a long list of arguments on why they shouldn't have to pay, including technical points regarding the CRTC's powers under the Broadcasting Act. Spotify argued that the contribution requirement amounts to a tax, which the CRTC doesn't have the authority to impose. The music streamer also took issue with the CRTC requiring the payments without first deciding how it will define Canadian content. Amazon argued the federal cabinet specified the CRTC's requirements have to be 'equitable.' It said the contribution requirement is 'inequitable because it applies only to foreign online undertakings and only to such undertakings with more than $25 million in annual Canadian broadcasting revenues.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Apple also said the regulator 'acted prematurely' and argued the CRTC didn't consider whether the order was 'equitable.' It pointed out Apple is required to contribute five per cent, while radio stations must only pay 0.5 per cent — and streamers don't have the same access to the funds into which they pay. The CRTC imposes different rules on Canadian content contributions from traditional media players. It requires large English-language broadcasters to contribute 30 per cent of revenues to Canadian programming. Motion Picture Association_Canada is only challenging one aspect of the CRTC's order — the part requiring companies to contribute 1.5 per cent of revenues to a fund for local news on independent TV stations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It said in court documents that none of the streamers 'has any connection to news production' and argued the CRTC doesn't have the authority to require them to fund news. 'What the CRTC did, erroneously, is purport to justify the … contribution simply on the basis that local news is important and local news operations provided by independent television stations are short of money,' it said. 'That is a reason why news should be funded by someone, but is devoid of any analysis, legal or factual, as to why it is equitable for foreign online undertakings to fund Canadian news production.' In its response, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters said the CRTC has wide authority under the Broadcasting Act. It argued streamers have contributed to the funding crisis facing local news. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'While the industry was once dominated by traditional television and radio services, those services are now in decline, as Canadians increasingly turn to online streaming services,' the broadcasters said. 'For decades, traditional broadcasting undertakings have supported the production of Canadian content through a complex array of CRTC-directed measures … By contrast, online undertakings have not been required to provide any financial support to the Canadian broadcasting system, despite operating here for well over a decade.' A submission from the federal government in defence of the CRTC argued the regulator was within its rights to order the payments. 'The orders challenged in these proceedings … are a valid exercise of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's regulatory powers. These orders seek to remedy the inequity that has resulted from the ascendance of online streaming giants like the Appellants,' the office of the attorney general said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Online undertakings have greatly profited from their access to Canadian audiences, without any corresponding obligation to make meaningful contributions supporting Canadian programming and creators — an obligation that has long been imposed on traditional domestic broadcasters.' The government said that if the streamers get their way, that would preserve 'an inequitable circumstance in which domestic broadcasters — operating in an industry under economic strain _ shoulder a disproportionate regulatory burden.' 'This result would be plainly out of step with the policy aims of Parliament' and cabinet, it added. The court hearing comes as trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada have cast a shadow over the CRTC's attempts to regulate online streamers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The regulator launched a suite of proceedings and hearings as part of its implementation of the Online Streaming Act, legislation that in 2023 updated the Broadcasting Act to set up the CRTC to regulate streaming companies. In January, as U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term, groups representing U.S. businesses and big tech companies warned the CRTC that its efforts to modernize Canadian content rules could worsen trade relations and lead to retaliation. Then, as the CRTC launched its hearing on modernizing the definition of Canadian content in May, Netflix, Paramount and Apple cancelled their individual appearances. While the companies didn't provide a reason, the move came shortly after Trump threatened to impose a tariff of up to 100 per cent on movies made outside the United States. Foreign streamers have long pointed to their existing spending in Canada in response to calls to bring them into the regulated system. 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Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
GUNTER: Taxpayers foot the bill for politicians' EV delusions
A Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle (EV) charges via a CCS DC fast charger from Electrify America at a shopping mall parking lot in Torrance, California, on February 23, 2024. Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images Among gambling addicts, it's called 'chasing your losses,' making ever larger and riskier bets to try to win back the money lost for initial bets. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Canadian politicians are now chasing their losses on electric vehicles (EVs). In the last five years, the federal, Ontario and Quebec governments have made enormous gambles on the future of the EV industry. According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the total these three governments have bet on EVs replacing internal combustions engines is in excess of $52 billion. That's just the tax money pledged to EV makers. It doesn't include billions more for subsidies to consumers to encourage them to buy EVs or to develop a network of charging stations across this vast land mass. If Canada were to achieve the federal mandate that all new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the country be EVs by 2035, the cost of manufacturing plants, battery plants, subsidies to buyers and charging infrastructure could easier soar to $200 billion, about 75 per cent of which would come from taxpayers. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The whole scheme is a fake market with phoney stimulus largely created by government command, not consumer demand. That's also just the price of this one slice of the politicians' 'green' transition. Let's not even bring up the cost of making Canada's entire power grid net zero at a time when government actions will be doubling the demand for electricity to charge EVs, heat homes without using natural gas, oil or coal, and build giant computing centres for the coming AI revolution. Given all those potential gigantic problems from the political rush to save the planet with net-zero cars and power generation, maybe I shouldn't focus on the federal Liberals' announcement over the weekend that they will be bringing back Ottawa's $5,000 per vehicle 'incentive' to buyers of EVs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Make no mistake, this is largely a government goodie for the upper-middle class. The typical EV buyer makes in excess of $90,000 a year and is buying the EV as a second or even third car. However, if Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec are going to maintain the fantasy that Canadian drivers can all be switched over to the electric vehicles that will be built in the mega-factories those governments have committed taxpayer billions to, then these subsidies have to be reinstated so that sales of EVs can be made to look, artificially, as though they are strong, when in fact they are not. After the federal incentive program ran out of cash in January, EVs sales across Canada fell 41 per cent in February and 45 per cent in March, versus those same months a year earlier. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. You will often hear 'green' politicians, bureaucrats and environmentalists claim the market for EVs is growing rapidly. They're not. The second governments stopped fanning the fire with generous subsidies, the flames burned down. Also, despite the tens of billions given by governments to auto manufacturers, in the last six months Honda, Ford, General Motors, Stellantis (Chrysler) and Toyota have all suspended plans to construct EV plants. My favourite was Ford's decision to switch a planned EV plant to production of its F-250 Super Duty pickup. Take that, EV promoters. On top of the big names, Lion Electric, a Quebec-based maker of electric transport trucks, tried to switch from trucks to buses last year to find investors. It is now in creditor protection. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The future in Canada of Swedish battery maker Northvolt — and the $7 billion given to it by the feds and the Quebec government — remains unclear, too. At present, of the over $50 billion committed to EV manufacturing by the federal government, Ontario and Quebec, about 70 per cent is delayed, in trouble or in default. Politicians allowed themselves to get swept up in the EV euphoria. Unfortunately, they dragged Canadians and their tax money along for the ride. Read More Celebrity Columnists Canada Canada Toronto & GTA
Newsweek
14-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
To Save America's Youth, Lawmakers Should Invest in Drug Prevention
Prevention remains one of the most effective and cost-conscious tools we have in our fight against the drug crisis. This National Prevention Week, we urge lawmakers to renew their investments in prevention and push back against industry-backed efforts to normalize drug use. To maximize their effectiveness, prevention programs must reach adolescents before they are exposed to substance use in their peer groups. Yet nearly one-third of 12- to 17-year-olds reported that they did not see or hear any substance use prevention messages in school, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This lack of prevention education has serious implications for health equity, as racial and ethnic minority youth are less likely to report seeing these messages in their schools. Prevention takes a village. All sectors of a community must be aligned in order to set healthy norms. This approach guides the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, which involves sectors from businesses and media to schools and religious organizations. Unfortunately, numerous actors that pursue private profits at the expense of public health actively undermine these efforts. These include marijuana shops and, more recently, psychedelics shops. Our children are given conflicting messages when we tell them not to use addictive substances now being promoted throughout their neighborhoods. Given the increasing embrace of mind-altering drugs at the state level, it's no surprise that drug use has risen. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that recreational marijuana legalization was associated with a 13 percent increase in past-month marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17, and a 22 percent increase among young adults ages 18 to 25. Between 2012 and 2023, the prevalence of marijuana use among 19- to 30-year-olds increased from 28.1 percent to 42.4 percent, while it more than doubled from 13.1 percent to 29.3 percent among 35- to 50-year-olds, according to the Monitoring the Future survey. Over this same period, annual overdose deaths nationwide more than doubled from 41,502 to 105,007. As highlighted in the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions' The Hyannis Consensus: The Blueprint for Effective Drug Policy, the nation's drug policy "should promote a health standard that normalizes the non-use of substances." Our drug policies should not make it easier to use licit and illicit substances. A person holds a glass pipe used to smoke meth following the decriminalization of all drugs in downtown Portland, Oregon on January 25, 2024. A person holds a glass pipe used to smoke meth following the decriminalization of all drugs in downtown Portland, Oregon on January 25, 2024. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images Other things being equal, the harms of drug use will decline as the prevalence of drug use declines. Notably, the White House recently estimated that the societal cost of illicit opioids was $2.7 trillion––with a "t"––in 2023, which is "equivalent to 9.7 percent of GDP." Viewed through this lens, prevention is essential and must remain central to drug policy efforts. A proactive, upstream approach premised on prevention will also reduce strain on downstream systems like treatment and recovery. Policymakers must remember that prevention programs are cost-effective. A 2016 report from the surgeon general explained: Interventions that prevent substance use disorders can yield an even greater economic return than the services that treat them. For example, a recent study of prevention programs estimated that every dollar spent on effective, school-based prevention programs can save an estimated $18 in costs related to problems later in life. National Prevention Week is also a fitting time to spotlight novel approaches to prevention. The Icelandic Model is particularly promising. A 2019 study explained that "by working to increase social and environmental protective factors associated with preventing or delaying substance use and decreasing corresponding risk factors, the model prevents substance use by intervening on society itself and across a broad spectrum of opportunities for community intervention." In practice, this approach may encourage youth to join community groups and participate in extracurricular activities, which are protective factors against substance use. To scale what we know works, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy director nominee Sara Carter should relaunch a national prevention campaign, similar to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Those public awareness efforts were particularly effective in reducing rates of tobacco use, and will help set strong anti-drug cultural norms and promote health. The current administration deserves praise for centering prevention in a recent statement of its drug policy priorities. We fully support its plan to "encourage educational campaigns and evidence-based prevention programs, particularly in schools and communities." But it's time we back it up with dollars and programs. As we recognize National Prevention Week, we must not forget about the importance of prevention and its role in helping more Americans live healthy, drug-free lives. Dr. Kevin Sabet is President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) and a former White House drug policy advisor across three administrations. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Costco members angered over food court price increase
Business Costco members angered over food court price increase Costco is different from most retailers in that customers have to pay a membership fee just to walk in the door. Costco has done its part to keep membership costs down. But last year, it increased the price of a basic Gold Star membership from $60 to $65 after holding fees steady for more than seven years. It also raised the cost of an Executive membership from $120 to $130. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter But consumers are willing to pay because the savings they enjoy year-round can well outweigh the cost of a membership. Related: Costco members pounce after warehouse club makes pricing mistake Plus, Costco members enjoy feeling valued. It's not a secret that Costco has a customer-first attitude, which is reflected in not just its low prices on products, but also its generous return policy. In fact, most retailers don't come close to matching Costco in the context of returns. With few exceptions, customers can bring back any item for any reason for a full refund. Costco food court price increase angers members. Image source: Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Image source: Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Costco's food court is a major draw Shopping at Costco can be a draining experience. It's not an easy thing to push a loaded oversized shopping cart through a gigantic warehouse and then wait in a long line to check out. That's why so many Costco members are grateful for the food court. After a tiring hour of shopping, it's nice to be able to sit down, grab a bite to eat, and take a load off. Related: Costco members rush to find new limited product Costco's food court is known for its tasty selection and affordable prices. The iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo has long done the trick of drawing in customers. And the pizza is a great deal, too. For just $1.99, customers can enjoy a large slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza. An 18-inch pie that can feed a family costs just $9.95. Better yet, pies can be ordered in advance and picked up on the way out the door. Costco food court pricing change angers members Costco has a habit of rotating items at its food court to keep things interesting. It also moves items on and off of the menu depending on what's selling and what isn't. Recently, Costco brought back the beloved hot turkey and provolone sandwich. Related: Costco CEO shares 1 key failure for Kirkland house brand The sandwich was a fixture on the food court menu but disappeared about five years ago, much to fans' dismay. Now, the famous sandwich is back, and with all of the fixings to make for a delicious bite. The hot turkey and provolone sandwich features red onion and tomatoes, along with basic garlic mayo. There's just one problem. Whereas the sandwich used to cost $3.99, Costco recently raised the price to $6.99, leaving customers paying nearly double. Costco fans took to Reddit to express their disappointment. One commenter pointed out that the hot turkey and provolone sandwich seems overpriced, given that Costco sells whole rotisserie chickens for $4.99. Another wrote, "This is not a deal. And it doesn't even taste good. Expect more from Costco." But some fans were quick to defend Costco's pricing decision. "There is around a pound of turkey inside the sandwich," one user pointed out. Another said, "Still worth it IMO." Of course, some Redditors expressed concern about Costco raising food court prices across the board. Although that's a possibility, it's unlikely that the cost of the beloved hot dog and soda combo will increase anytime soon. More Retail: Costco has long used that inflation-proof deal as a marketing gimmick. And it knows that there would be immense backlash if the cost were to rise. In fact, last year, CFO Gary Millerchip made a point to confirm on a company earnings call that the $1.50 hot dog price was "safe." Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:17 AM.
RNZ News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Samoa falls short in sevens qualifier
Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON Samoa has missed out on qualifying for Sevens Division Two at the end-of-season event in Los Angeles. After finishing second in their group, Samoa's men's team faced a playoff final against Germany but were beaten 31-0. Last week, the HSBC SVNS organisation announced a change to the format, which no longer included a playoff for the top tier at the LA tournament - so challenger teams, including Samoa, could not win through to the top level. Instead, there will be three division levels going forward, and LA playoff winners qualified for next season's division two. Uruguay, USA, Kenya, and Germany qualified for the 2026 men's division two series, while the women's teams making the grade were Brazil, China, Kenya, and Spain. Read more: Samoa and the other unsuccessful playoff teams will begin the 2026 season in regional competitions, from which they will have a chance to progress through the levels. The only other Pacific Island nation in LA, Fiji, failed to make the main semifinals in both the men's and women's tournaments. They finished seventh and fifth respectively. Fiji's Joji Nasova was joint top try scorer in the men's series, alongside Argentina's Marcos Moneta. Nasova also finished as top points scorer with 158 points over the season. In the main tournament, New Zealand's women's team was crowned world champions after crushing Australia 31-7 in the final. They had already wrapped up the overall league title after winning four of the six previous rounds. South Africa won the men's championship, defeating Spain 19-5 in the final. This now wraps up the current sevens season. Next season (2025-26) the new format will kick in, comprising: Fiji's men's and women's teams will both be in division one next year, while Samoa is relegated back to a regional level aiming to reach division three.
