The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced today a breakthrough agreement with Google for the implementation of the Online News Act. The deal ensures the news sector's vitality and guarantees Canadians access to reliable news content.

Under the agreement, Google commits to providing $100 million in annual financial support, adjusted for inflation, to a diverse range of news businesses nationwide. This includes independent news outlets and those from Indigenous and official-language minority communities.

Our Government understands the importance of a sustainable news ecosystem. News and journalism play a vital role in informing communities, fostering civic engagement, and countering disinformation. The financial support aims to bolster struggling news organizations, protecting the Canadian news industry's health.

Minister St-Onge emphasized the critical role of news access in enabling Canadians to fully participate in a democratic society, noting the industry's challenges with staff reductions and closures. The Online News Act will work as a vital framework to ensure the news sector's continued vitality.

This landmark agreement signifies a collaborative effort between Canada and Google, demonstrating the government's commitment to a resilient news sector and Canadians' access to diverse and accurate news sources.