The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage met to study the journalism and media sectors. Witnesses included Marie-Eve Carignan, a professor and UNESCO Chair holder; Cheryl McKenzie, Mike Omelus, and Joel Fortune from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN); David Errington from Accessible Media Inc. (AMI); and Kiumars Rezvanifar and Madeline Ziniak from the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA).
Marie-Eve Carignan argued that media is a public good requiring public intervention, and she called for strengthening the Online News Act (Bill C-18) and the Canadian journalism labour tax credit. She emphasized the need for recurrent, not project-based, funding for local and Indigenous media, citing research showing local media's crucial role in crises and Indigenous media's under-representation. She noted that opinion journalism is rising because it is cheap and attracts attention, blurring genres and fueling public distrust, and she recommended establishing an independent body to distribute funds and act as an observatory to improve media practices.
Cheryl McKenzie and Mike Omelus of APTN described the network's unique role in providing Indigenous perspectives with longer-form, investigative journalism, but said its revenue from subscriber fees and advertising is declining due to cord-cutting. They proposed that the CRTC create a "services of exceptional importance" fund to support broadcasters providing essential public value, and noted that the current Numeris rating system undercounts their audience, especially in rural areas and territories, by not measuring satellite or set-top box data. They disagreed with any suggestion that CBC/Radio-Canada should be cut from funding, citing a strong partnership that helps APTN produce scripted content.
David Errington of AMI said the network, which serves persons with disabilities, has seen annual revenues drop by over $4 million since 2018 due to declining cable subscriptions, forcing layoffs and a shift to outsourced production. He called for reliable, sustainable funding through a dedicated federal envelope at levels substantially greater than the current $10 million over two years, combined with increased contributions from broadcast distributors and streaming platforms. He noted that AMI has never received a rate increase in nearly two decades and that licence renewals are delayed until at least 2027.
Kiumars Rezvanifar and Madeline Ziniak of CEMA stated that independent multilingual community television producers are the only Canadian media sector without any dedicated federal support, as they are excluded from the Canada Media Fund, the Google news fund, the Local Journalism Initiative, and the Canadian journalism labour tax credit. They warned that without support, this sector could become vulnerable to foreign influence and disinformation, and they cited an example of a producer who refused funding from the Iranian regime. They asked for recognition as a distinct category and for equitable access to funding structures.
The committee also heard from members who questioned witnesses. One member asked about the vulnerability of ethnic communities without support, and CEMA witnesses expanded on how foreign governments have offered funding with editorial strings attached. Another member asked APTN about the structural challenges of reaching audiences, and APTN cited declining cable revenue and flawed ratings. A member asked Carignan about the quality of journalism, and she noted the rise of opinion journalism and intimidation of journalists. A member asked about the Google agreement, and Carignan suggested Canada coordinate with other countries to pressure platforms. A member asked about regulating the journalism profession, and Carignan noted divided views on creating an order. A member asked about discoverability, and APTN said fair access to data from streaming platforms is critical. A member asked about federal programs for inclusive media, and Errington called for long-term sustainable funding. A member asked about CBC/Radio-Canada's decision to put RDI on Prime Video, and Carignan said she found it hard to understand. A member asked about funding from Bill C-18, and AMI said it had received none, while APTN said it benefits from a fund for Indigenous publishers. A member asked about maintaining journalistic standards on digital platforms, and APTN said it chops stories into bite-sized pieces but faces online hate. A member asked about balancing public funding with independence, and Fortune cited the Canadian journalism tax credit as a neutral tool, while Carignan recommended strengthening press councils. A member asked about educating the public on journalism, and Carignan said there is great misunderstanding. A member asked about a national conference on media, and Carignan supported the idea. A member asked about the impact of inequality in funding, and CEMA said it is the underdog. A member asked about opportunities from AI for accessibility, and Errington said AI is a tool but the disability community wants a human element. A member asked about the role of ethnic media for newcomers, and Rezvanifar said they are lost without it. A member asked about reopening discussions with Meta, and Carignan agreed it is necessary. A member asked about the role of AI in journalism, and Carignan said it must be transparent and subject to human verification.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.