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News Media Industry

During question period, a Conservative member raised the state of local radio stations in smaller communities such as Hearst and Kapuskasing, saying people depend on them during emergencies like road-closing storms. He noted that only a small share of the government’s recent advertising budget went to local radio and asked that more of that existing advertising spending be directed to local stations without new money being spent. A Liberal minister replied that access to fact-based information across the country is important, that local news helps counter misinformation, and that the government supports strong and independent newsrooms and will continue to do so.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Gaétan Malette

Conservative
“Small communities need their local radio stations to stay informed. Only three percent of the government's advertising budget went to local radio. I want the government to send more of that advertising money to local stations without spending anything extra.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when a storm shuts down roads in Hearst or Kapuskasing, people rely on their local radio stations, like Épinette noire or La voix d’chez nous, to stay informed. However, nobody in Ottawa seems to be listening. In the last budget, Ottawa spent $78 million on advertising, but only 3% of that was allocated to local radio stations in Canada. Without spending another penny, what is the government waiting for to redistribute part of its advertising budget to these radio stations, which are essential to Canada’s small communities?

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Madeleine Chenette

Liberal

Linked statement

“Canadians need accurate information about their communities. Local news and radio stations are important for fighting false information. Our government is supporting them and will keep doing so.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 35 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, access to fact-based information from coast to coast to coast is essential for keeping Canadians informed. Canadians deserve access to factual information that reflects our communities, our stories and our values. We continue to support strong and independent newsrooms. Across the country, and especially when dealing with disinformation, our local media and radio stations matter a lot. We are supporting them and we will continue to do so.

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