Since the introduction of Bill C-18 two years ago this June, nearly 100 news outlets across Canada have ceased operations. While the intent may have been to support journalism, the reality has been devastating. It has crippled newsrooms, and the federal government has selectively funded some outlets while ignoring others.
Locally, the impact has been profound:
Kamloops This Week shut down, explicitly citing Bill C-18.
Bell Media laid off 4,800 employees, naming Bill C-18 as a factor.
Black Press (Kelowna Capital News) filed for bankruptcy on January 15, 2024.
Global News closed its Kelowna studio.
At KelownaNow, we have published numerous stories on the destructive impact of Bill C-18. We've also received letters of support from every level of government and across party lines including from Kelowna’s Liberal MP, Stephen Fuhr yet the current government refuses to repeal the legislation.
Meanwhile, the CBC received a windfall of federal funding, and its executives received raises, even as frontline reporters were overlooked. Independent outlets like ours were left out.
In times of crisis like the B.C. wildfires our communities rely on timely, accurate information.
With social media giants blocking Canadian news in retaliation to Bill C-18, people can't find local updates when they need them most.
This legislation punishes independent outlets without CBC’s deep funding and jeopardizes access to vital, community-specific journalism.
We at KelownaNow held on through the election, hoping for change. The Conservative Party platform promised to repeal Bill C-18, fund local journalism, and direct federal ad dollars to local outlets. The Liberal Party instead chose to increase funding to the CBC a decision immediately followed by executive raises.
We are turning to you—our community, businesses, and leaders to keep local, independent journalism alive by switching your ad spend with the American Social Media Giants back to local outlets.
They provide no coverage of local events, they don’t come out and do videos on your latest announcements and they sure don’t stand on the front lines of a fire to report to our local community.
Gold Sponsor – $10,000/year
Unlimited promotion of your press releases, events, and videos across all our channels.
Silver Sponsor – $5,000/year
Generous coverage for your key announcements and initiatives.
Bronze Sponsor – $2,500/year
Ideal for ongoing press coverage with flexible placement options.
Make a one-time or monthly donation
Use traditional ad options or pay per press release
Submit a release here
Contact your MP and urge them to repeal Bill C-18
A healthy media ecosystem shouldn’t rely on bailouts or begging. But Bill C-18 has taken away the audience we earned over decades of community service and crippled our ability to generate revenue.
We believe that truth, local storytelling, and accountability matter. If you agree, then we humbly ask: stand with KelownaNow. Support local media, not American tech giants or foreign-owned broadcasters.
