Latest news with #ProgressiveConservative
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Opinion: B.C. government advertising: Time to buy local
For more than 100 years, member publishers of the B.C. & Yukon Community News Media Association have served British Columbians. With more than 90 newspapers and a combined readership of almost two million, we keep British Columbians connected and engaged. In an era of fake news, real news is more important than ever before. Real news — meaning fact-based, fact-checked original news — costs real money. Traditionally, newspapers relied heavily on advertising revenue to fund the original content our journalists create. Over the past 15 years, those advertising dollars have shifted from authoritative Canadian sources, like newspapers, to U.S.-based web giants. In 2012, Canadian newspaper advertising revenue stood at $3.55 billion. Today, it is less than $1 billion. Yet, four out of five Canadians still read newspapers, regardless of format, at least once a week — essentially unchanged since 2012. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. To illustrate the point, the federal government reports that during fiscal year 2022 to 2023, it spent more than $86 million on advertising. Of that, less than $1 million went to all print publications in the country combined. In the face of threats to our economy and our sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadians are showing their pride and buying Canadian. You can see it in the grocery aisle, where shoppers choose fresh fruit from B.C. over fruit from Washington or California. So, why do governments buy advertising from American tech giants? Shouldn't British Columbia adopt advertising procurement policies to support trusted Canadian news brands? This has been done in other jurisdictions and it is working. Last year, Ontario's Progressive Conservative premier, Doug Ford, directed that 25 per cent of his government's advertising spending, including that of Ontario's Crown corporations, be set aside for news publications. On the other side of the border and of the political aisle, then New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, mandated that city agencies allocate at least 50 per cent of their print and digital advertising to community and ethnic media. According to The Center for Community Media at CUNY, 'The impact of this policy cannot be overstated: In its first five years, it injected more than $72 million into the local community media sector. This helped critical information reach New Yorkers who rely on community media as their primary source of news, and added an important source of revenue for these outlets.' The not-for-profit Rebuild Local News found that advertising set-asides, done right, have the following benefits: First, they can provide substantial revenue to local news organizations and help community journalism thrive. Second, it is money the government is already spending — not new money — so it does not require enlarging state or local budgets or raising taxes. Third, government messages can reach a full range of residents, including those who may not be using larger media. Fourth, as advertising, it is payment for a service rendered, not a subsidy per se. Finally, advertising in community news helps government be more effective by reaching audiences through community and ethnic publications that are more trusted in their communities. According to a recent study, advertising in trustworthy environments leads to a 25 per cent lift in brand rating. News publishers in aggregate are seen as 35 per cent above the baseline level of trust across information environments. And local news publishers see an additional 16 per cent gain in perceived trustworthiness among local audiences. It's time for B.C. to adopt a minimum 25 per cent set-aside for government advertising, as well as at Crown corporations like B.C. Hydro, B.C. Transit, and the B.C. Lottery Corporation, to help preserve local journalism jobs and keep local and community newspapers open. And those journalists keep communities and residents informed, so they can effectively participate in democratic processes. It would also send an important signal to private sector advertisers about keeping ad dollars here in B.C., rather than sending them to Big Tech behemoths in California, whose algorithms amplify misinformation and disinformation. Premier Eby, let's support the home team. Kelly Keil is chair of the B.C. & Yukon Community News Media Association and is the publisher of the Powell River Peak
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mark Carney will huddle with premiers in Muskoka to talk trade, Donald Trump and crime
A bucolic resort in Muskoka is the political centre of Canada this week. Canada's premiers are gathering in cottage country to meet with Indigenous leaders Monday afternoon and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday morning before the official start of their Council of the Federation meeting later that day. In an unusual move, Premier Doug Ford, who is hosting the summit at Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake, invited Carney to attend the provincial and territorial leaders' conference because of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war against Canada. 'It's never been a more important time to welcome my fellow premiers to Ontario to continue the work we've done over the past year to protect Canada and our economy,' Ford said Thursday in Toronto. Tariffs and treaty rights are on the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations. (July 20, 2025) 'This meeting will be an opportunity to work together on how to respond to President Trump's latest threat and how we can unleash the full potential of Canada's economy,' added the Progressive Conservative premier, a close political ally of the Liberal prime minister . Carney was quick to accept Ford's invitation and emphasized he has other things to discuss with the premiers, including 'bail reform, particularly with respect to repeat offenders,' among other criminal justice matters. 'We have commitments on that. We're working with the provinces on those issues,' the prime minister said Wednesday in Hamilton. 'I'll be meeting with the premiers next week. I'm sure that's one of the elements that we will discuss, and you can expect legislation from this government in the fall,' he said. That's music to Ford's ears — for years he has been urging Ottawa to toughen up bail laws to prevent 'weak-kneed judges' from releasing recidivists. But the primary focus of the Muskoka meetings will be the economy — especially in light of Carney's admission last week that any future deal with Trump would likely mean tariffs on Canadian goods exported stateside. 'There's not a lot of evidence right now from the deals, agreements and negotiations with the Americans, for any country or any jurisdiction, to have a deal without tariffs,' the prime minister conceded last Tuesday. Monday's session with the premiers and Indigenous leaders is expected to be dominated by many First Nations' opposition to Ford's Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, and Carney's Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The federal and provincial laws, which are designed to speed up major infrastructure projects like pipelines and rail corridors as well as mines, have raised questions about traditional treaty rights and the environmental impact of fast-tracking development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has warned that 'our rights cannot be implemented or respected without us, in substance and in process.' Still, Carney insisted at a Gatineau meeting Thursday with First Nations leaders — where fears about Bill C-5 were expressed — that 'in many respects, this is the first federal legislation to put Indigenous economic growth at its core.' Ford, meanwhile, is devoting some of his summer to allaying Indigenous communities' concerns over Bill 5, which he hopes will speed up development of the Ring of Fire mining project. But legal challenges against both bills are being launched by nine Ontario First Nations, arguing the laws are unconstitutional. They are seeking a court injunction that would prevent Ottawa and Queen's Park from moving so quickly. One aspect of Bill C-5 that is less contentious is the removal of most federal barriers to interprovincial trade. Because Trump's actions are forcing Canadian leaders to scramble to diversify trade, there has been a push to eliminate internal barriers that could cost the Canadian economy as much as $200 billion annually. Ontario has so far inked deals with all provinces except Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador to curb hurdles to free trade within Canada. Sources, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, say an accord with B.C. will be signed in Huntsville, putting more pressure on Quebec's François Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador's John Hogan to reach agreements with Ford. B.C. New Democratic Premier David Eby told reporters Thursday in Victoria that his province will be 'seizing new opportunities' to reduce its reliance on trade with the U.S. Officials say Ford is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding with the territorial premiers of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The three-day meeting is being held about 40 minutes drive from the premier's family cottage .
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Hogan says new cash benefit for departing ministers axed, in wake of CBC report
Premier John Hogan says his cabinet has met and decided to "immediately rescind" a new policy that provided outgoing ministers between $12,000 and $48,000 on their way out the door. In a post on Facebook late Friday afternoon, Hogan reiterated that he was not in cabinet and was not involved in the decision to approve the policy. The new benefit — which came into effect April 1 — was never publicly disclosed, until it was revealed by CBC News on Friday morning. "I became aware of the matter following inquiries from the media and acted quickly to revoke the allowance," Hogan noted in his Facebook post. The stunning reversal came 10 hours after CBC News broke the story about the new transitional allowance policy for ministers. It provided one month's salary for each year of service in cabinet, on a prorated basis, for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months. The province's Executive Council declined to say when the decision was made, noting that it was a decision of cabinet and those deliberations are protected. On Thursday evening, a spokesperson for Hogan told CBC News that the premier was not in cabinet when the decision was made, and he was not involved in the decision. That statement sparked barbs from both opposition parties Friday. "I think that's a cop-out," Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham said in an interview early Friday afternoon. Wakeham called the allowance "another Liberal scandal," and said Hogan, as premier, would be well aware of a decision made by cabinet. "At a time in Newfoundland and Labrador when so many people are hurting with the cost of living, to see taxpayers dollars being secretly paid out to Liberal cabinet ministers and approved by their own ministers, this is scandalous," Wakeham said. NDP Leader Jim Dinn said the decision left him "shaking my head [in] disbelief," and recalling what he's heard while hosting town halls about affordability. "It shows a lack of sensitivity to the struggles that many people face in the province," Dinn said. "If you can make decisions like this, surely there are other things you can do just as easily to help people of the province who are struggling with cost of living." Both leaders spoke to CBC News before Hogan's Facebook post announcing the reversal of the benefit. Since April 1, when the now-rescinded policy came into effect, eight cabinet ministers have either already left or signalled their intentions to not run again when voters go to the polls in a looming provincial election. Hogan's statement on Facebook did not address whether the decision is retroactive, and how it would apply to any money already paid out.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
NDP government reviewing $18M Manitoba rail port grant
Manitoba's finance minister says the province is reviewing what he called a "mysterious" decision by the former Progressive Conservative government to give $18 million to a company planning to develop a rail port south of Winnipeg, just weeks before the last provincial election.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mark Carney will huddle with premiers in Muskoka to talk trade, Trump and crime
A bucolic resort in Muskoka is the political centre of Canada this week. Canada's premiers are gathering in cottage country to meet with Indigenous leaders Monday afternoon and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday morning before the official start of their Council of the Federation meeting later that day. In an unusual move, Premier Doug Ford, who is hosting the summit at Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake, invited Carney to attend the provincial and territorial leaders' conference because of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war against Canada. 'It's never been a more important time to welcome my fellow premiers to Ontario to continue the work we've done over the past year to protect Canada and our economy,' Ford said Thursday in Toronto. 'This meeting will be an opportunity to work together on how to respond to President Trump's latest threat and how we can unleash the full potential of Canada's economy,' added the Progressive Conservative premier, a close political ally of the Liberal prime minister . Carney was quick to accept Ford's invitation and emphasized he has other things to discuss with the premiers, including 'bail reform, particularly with respect to repeat offenders,' among other criminal justice matters. 'We have commitments on that. We're working with the provinces on those issues,' the prime minister said Wednesday in Hamilton. 'I'll be meeting with the premiers next week. I'm sure that's one of the elements that we will discuss, and you can expect legislation from this government in the fall,' he said. That's music to Ford's ears — for years he has been urging Ottawa to toughen up bail laws to prevent 'weak-kneed judges' from releasing recidivists. But the primary focus of the Muskoka meetings will be the economy — especially in light of Carney's admission last week that any future deal with Trump would likely mean tariffs on Canadian goods exported stateside. 'There's not a lot of evidence right now from the deals, agreements and negotiations with the Americans, for any country or any jurisdiction, to have a deal without tariffs,' the prime minister conceded last Tuesday. Monday's session with the premiers and Indigenous leaders is expected to be dominated by many First Nations' opposition to Ford's Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, and Carney's Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act. The federal and provincial laws, which are designed to speed up major infrastructure projects like pipelines and rail corridors as well as mines, have raised questions about traditional treaty rights and the environmental impact of fast-tracking development. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has warned that 'our rights cannot be implemented or respected without us, in substance and in process.' Still, Carney insisted at a Gatineau meeting Thursday with First Nations leaders — where fears about Bill C-5 were expressed — that 'in many respects, this is the first federal legislation to put Indigenous economic growth at its core.' Ford, meanwhile, is devoting some of his summer to allaying Indigenous communities' concerns over Bill 5, which he hopes will speed up development of the Ring of Fire mining project. But legal challenges against both bills are being launched by nine Ontario First Nations, arguing the laws are unconstitutional. They are seeking a court injunction that would prevent Ottawa and Queen's Park from moving so quickly. One aspect of Bill C-5 that is less contentious is the removal of most federal barriers to interprovincial trade. Because Trump's actions are forcing Canadian leaders to scramble to diversify trade, there has been a push to eliminate internal barriers that could cost the Canadian economy as much as $200 billion annually. Ontario has so far inked deals with all provinces except Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador to curb hurdles to free trade within Canada. Sources, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, say an accord with B.C. will be signed in Huntsville, putting more pressure on Quebec's François Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador's John Hogan to reach agreements with Ford. B.C. New Democratic Premier David Eby told reporters Thursday in Victoria that his province will be 'seizing new opportunities' to reduce its reliance on trade with the U.S. Officials say Ford is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding with the territorial premiers of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The three-day meeting is being held about 40 minutes drive from the premier's family cottage .
