News Media Industry

During oral questions on the news media industry, a Conservative member asked the government to shift a larger share of its existing federal advertising spending to local and rural radio stations, saying those stations provide vital news during fires, outages and road closures, and that only about 3% of the ad budget currently goes to them. He said he was not asking for new spending, only better use of existing dollars. The Liberal parliamentary secretary replied that local media and journalists need support and said the government’s budget provides funding to help them produce fact-based local news.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

2 statements

Gaétan Malette, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk

Conservative
“Local radio keeps people safe during fires, power outages, and road closures. But the government spends only 3% of its ad budget on local stations. I want the government to shift more of its current ad spending to local Canadian radio.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the power goes out, when forest fires burn wild and the highways close, people in my riding tune in to their radio stations such as Moose FM and Le Loup. When rural Canadians travel to work, they listen to their radio. However, the government spends only 3% of its advertising budget on local Canadian radio. Without spending an extra dime, will the government give local radio its fair share of federal advertising?

Gaétan Malette, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk

Conservative
“The government should not spend more money, but spend what it already has better. Rural communities rely on local radio for news. I want the minister to spend more of the existing advertising money on local radio stations.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is about priorities. I am not asking the government to spend more. I am asking it to make better use of money that is already spent. Rural communities depend on local radio stations for breaking news. Will the minister commit to redirecting a greater share of existing advertising dollars to local radio?

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 164

  1. Government Orders The Budget 27 statements
  2. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  3. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 4 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Budget 10 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Budget 6 statements
  7. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Climate Change 4 statements
  9. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Canadian Heritage 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Finance 14 statements
  12. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Aviation Industry 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions Points of Order 9 statements
  17. Oral Questions The Budget 4 statements
  18. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 4 statements
  19. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 2 statements
  20. Oral Questions News Media Industry 4 statements
  21. Oral Questions The Budget 2 statements
  22. Private Members' Business Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act 16 statements
  23. Oral Questions Employment 4 statements
  24. Government Orders The Budget 36 statements