Restrict foreign media ownership
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to review foreign ownership in Canadian media under the Investment Canada Act, bar foreign control to protect editorial independence, and require disclosure of foreign stakes. The government responds that the Investment Canada Act is jointly administered by Canadian Heritage and ISED and generally applies to non‑Canadian investors seeking control.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces risk of foreign editorial influence by preventing controlling ownership, helping ensure news reflect Canadian priorities.
- Public disclosure of foreign stakes increases transparency so readers can judge potential biases.
- A formal Investment Canada Act review would assess national‑interest risks and allow policy responses based on findings.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Restrictions could deter foreign investment and limit capital available to sustain struggling news outlets.
- Defining and policing “control” and tracing beneficial ownership is complex and may be costly or slow to implement.
- Ownership limits may not address underlying issues of media viability; direct funding or support for independent journalism might be more effective.
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 Postmedia Network owns and operates more than 130 print and digital news titles across Canada, and is majority-owned (~66%) by the U.S.-based hedge fund Chatham Asset Management, giving significant control over Canadian media to foreign interests; Foreign ownership of media outlets raises concerns about editorial independence, potential bias toward foreign interests, and the ability of Canadian news to reflect domestic priorities and perspectives; and Protecting Canadian media from undue foreign influence is critical to upholding Canadian cultural sovereignty, public trust, and the functioning of democracy. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Initiate a formal review of foreign ownership in Canadian media companies under the Investment Canada Act, to assess the net benefit to Canada and potential risks to national interests; 2. Introduce stricter rules to prevent foreign entities from holding controlling interests in Canadian media, ensuring editorial independence, protection of Canadian culture, and the integrity of public information; and 3. Maintain transparency and accountability by requiring publicly available reporting and disclosure of any foreign ownership stakes in Canadian media, so Canadians can be informed about who controls the news they rely on.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by The Honourable Marc Miller The Government would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their desire for stronger oversight and limits on foreign ownership in Canadian media. Responsibility for the administration and application of the Investment Canada Act is a shared responsibility between the Departments of Canadian Heritage and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Canadian Heritage administers certain provisions of the Investment Canada Act by reviewing and monitoring foreign investments in Canada’s cultural sector, including the publication, distribution or sale of newspapers in print or machine-readable form, to ensure net benefit to Canada. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is responsible for the overall administration of the Investment Canada Act and is responsible for reviewing foreign investments in all other sectors, while also ensuring that any and all foreign investments are not harmful to Canada's national security. We cannot comment on any specific organization and their status under the Investment Canada Act. In general, the Investment Canada Act applies only to non-Canadian investors looking to establish new businesses in Canada or acquire existing Canadian businesses. Investments by investors considered by the Investment Canada Act to be Canadian, or investments by non-Canadians that fall short of the acquisition of control, are not subject to the provisions of the Investment Canada Act.