Majority Canadian media ownership
Petitioners ask Parliament to pass legislation requiring majority Canadian ownership and control of print, digital and other non-audio-visual news media to protect Canadian sovereignty and journalism integrity.
Why we would sign this petition
- Strengthens national control over news outlets, helping media better reflect Canadian priorities and protect sovereignty.
- Aims to preserve independent Canadian journalism by prioritizing accountability, accuracy and representation of local voices.
- Offers a legal safeguard against foreign influence that could skew coverage, citing international models as precedents.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- May deter foreign investment and reduce funding for news organizations, risking financial strain on outlets.
- Defining and enforcing "control" across ownership structures could be legally complex and hard to implement.
- Could limit access to international perspectives and raise trade or free‑expression concerns; targeted alternatives might address influence without broad ownership rules.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Postmedia, one of Canada's largest media companies, is controlled by Chatham Asset Management, an American hedge fund, placing a key part of Canada’s news media under foreign influence; Foreign ownership introduces perspectives shaped by American political and cultural priorities, which often do not reflect Canadian values or concerns; Independent Canadian journalism is essential to democracy, ensuring accountability, accuracy, and representation of Canadian voices; Foreign control risks skewing news coverage, undermining media integrity, and eroding public trust; and Other countries, such as Australia and France, have established policies to safeguard domestic control of media, providing workable models for Canada. We, the undersigned, Residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to pass legislation requiring majority Canadian ownership and control of print, digital and other non-audio-visual news media, to protect Canadian sovereignty, ensure journalism integrity, and guarantee that our media reflects Canadian priorities and values.
Government response
No government response is available yet.