CAGE OF CONTROL
Controlling the Narrative

Canada

Court-ordered blocking, a new digital safety regulator, a "lawful access" bill aimed at service providers, and a news industry built on federal money.

Introduction

Canada has gone further than any country in this series in tying the finances of private journalism to the federal government, and it is now moving fast on the internet itself. Courts have ordered internet providers to block sites and ordered Google to delist results worldwide. A bill introduced in June 2026 would create a Digital Safety Commission and an under-16 minimum age for social media. A "Lawful Access Act" now before the Senate would let the government impose surveillance capabilities on electronic service providers. Meanwhile newsrooms receive a tax credit on reporters' salaries, the federal government pays for hundreds of local journalist jobs, Google's news payments flow through criteria written by Parliament, and the CBC is set for a funding increase. In my view, Canada is building a system in which government sits behind both the information people see and the newsrooms that produce it.

Control of Expression, Speech & Information

1. Internet searches: how the government controls them

Worldwide delisting. In Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions (2017), the Supreme Court of Canada upheld an interlocutory injunction ordering Google to de-index a company's websites from its search results worldwide, not just in Canada.[1] A Canadian court reaching every Google user on the planet is a remarkable assertion of power over search.

The right to be delisted. In 2023 the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that Google Search is subject to Canada's federal privacy law, PIPEDA, and can't rely on the exemption for journalistic purposes.[2][3] The ruling didn't decide whether Canadians have a "right to be forgotten." It let the Privacy Commissioner continue investigating whether Google should delist a complainant's name.[4] The door to court-supervised delisting is now open.

Website blocking. In Teksavvy v. Bell Media (2021), the Federal Court of Appeal upheld Canada's first site-blocking order, requiring ISPs to block the GoldTV piracy service.[5] A later Federal Court order granted the first "dynamic" blocking order, which lets blocked addresses be updated in real time without returning to a judge.[6] As in Britain, the infrastructure is built for piracy. The question is what else it will be used for.

Age verification for adult sites. Bill S-209, the Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act, passed the Senate on 15 April 2026. It would require commercial pornography providers to use government-prescribed age verification or age estimation.[7] It is now before the House of Commons.[8]

Government removal requests. In January–June 2025, Canadian authorities sent Google 67 removal requests covering 217 items, 13 aimed at Web Search, mostly citing privacy and security (29) or defamation (17). Police made 17 of them.[9]

2. Social media searches and removals

The Online Harms Act (C-63) would have created a digital safety commission and new hate-speech provisions. It died when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025.[10] It has now returned in a new form.

On 10 June 2026 the government introduced Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act. It would create a Digital Safety Commission of Canada and impose duties on social media and AI chatbot services over seven types of harmful content, including content that "foments hatred" and content that incites violence. Platforms would have a "duty to make certain content inaccessible" for child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images. They would also have a "duty to act responsibly," including mitigating users' exposure to harmful content and labelling AI-generated content. The Commission would collect user complaints, audit compliance, issue orders and impose penalties, and would write many of the detailed rules itself by regulation.[11][12] My concern is the last part. "Content that foments hatred" is a contested category, and a regulator that defines its own obligations by regulation answers to no one at the ballot box.

What platforms report. Meta restricted only 18 items in Canada based on local law in July–December 2025, the fewest of any country in this series.[13] Meta's bigger intervention in Canada was its own: it has blocked news on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users since August 2023, in response to the Online News Act (C-18). The block remains while Ottawa and Meta talk.[14]

3. Social media access and ID

Under Bill C-34, social media services would have to implement age-appropriate protections, and the government says it intends to set a 16-year minimum age for holding accounts. The Digital Safety Commission could exempt a platform with sufficient child safeguards, and it would set age estimation and age verification measures by regulation.[11][12] The CBC reported the bill as Ottawa moving "to restrict social media for kids under 16."[15] As of October 2026 it is at second reading in the House.[12]

Once again, the route to an age-limited internet runs through proving who you are. The bill leaves the method to a regulator still to be created.[11] [Needs source: any federal digital ID proposal linked to age verification.]

4. Social media warrants, known or unknown to the user

The Lawful Access Act. In 2025 the government's Strong Borders Act (C-2) included sweeping lawful-access provisions. These were reintroduced, with changes, as Bill C-22, the Lawful Access Act, 2026. It passed the House of Commons on 18 June 2026 and is at second reading in the Senate.[16][17] According to the Citizen Lab and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the bill's Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act would let the government impose obligations on "any electronic service provider," including building surveillance capabilities. They say it also includes a metadata retention regime that could require providers to keep metadata for up to a year. They call the retention mechanism "almost certainly unconstitutional," and they warn of risks to encryption.[17] They also criticise "for greater certainty" clauses that would let police obtain "publicly available" or "voluntarily" disclosed information without a warrant.[17] Canada has never had Australia-style capability notices. If C-22 passes, it will.

Notification. Canada's existing law is better than most here. Under section 196 of the Criminal Code, a person whose private communications were intercepted under a judicial authorisation must be notified in writing within 90 days. Courts can extend that by up to three years at a time while the investigation continues.[18] [Needs source: whether the new C-22 powers carry equivalent notice requirements.]

What platforms report. In July–December 2025, Meta received 3,355 Canadian requests for user data covering 4,920 accounts, and produced some data in 76.99% of cases. Of those, 2,198 were emergency requests and only 1,157 legal process.[19] Google received 1,155 legal requests (86% disclosed, 1,889 accounts) and 664 emergency requests.[20] Emergency requests, which typically skip a court order, made up roughly two-thirds of Canada's requests to Meta.[19]

5. Government-controlled media: print

The Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit covers 35% of eligible newsroom salaries, up to $85,000 per employee, through 2026. To claim it, an organisation must be designated a "qualifying Canadian journalism organization" (QCJO).[21]

The Local Journalism Initiative pays for journalists in underserved communities: $58.8 million for 2024–27, bringing the total since 2019 to $128.8 million and supporting more than 400 journalists.[22] Question Period notes put it at 413 positions in 2022–23, covering 1,543 communities.[23] The federal government also spent about $76.4 million on advertising in 2023–24.[24]

Under the Online News Act, Google pays $100 million a year, adjusted for inflation, into the Canadian Journalism Collective in exchange for a five-year exemption granted by the CRTC from 28 October 2024.[25][26] Eligibility is set by section 27 of the Act, and the money is split by journalist headcount.[27][28] When a newsroom's salaries are subsidised by the state, its reporters are partly paid by government programs, and its eligibility depends on federal criteria, it's fair to ask how hard that newsroom will push against the hand that feeds it.

6. Government-controlled media: television and radio

Funding. CBC/Radio-Canada received an estimated $1.38 billion in 2024–25.[29] During the 2025 election, Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged an initial $150 million annual increase and statutory funding.[29] Budget 2025 proposed the $150 million,[30] and the 2025–26 corporate plan includes $42 million in one-time funding.[31]

Appointments. All 12 members of the CBC/Radio-Canada board, including the chair and the president, are appointed by the Governor in Council, meaning the federal cabinet.[32] An independent advisory committee recommends candidates, but cabinet decides.[33] The current president, Marie-Philippe Bouchard, was appointed for a five-year term beginning January 2025.[34]

Licensing and prominence. The Online Streaming Act (C-11) brought streaming services under the Broadcasting Act and the CRTC. In 2024 the CRTC ordered streaming services with $25 million or more in Canadian revenue to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues, an estimated $200 million a year, to funds including local news and French-language and Indigenous content. The decision also anticipated future obligations on "promotion, discoverability and prominence" of Canadian content.[35] The Federal Court of Appeal paused the requirement,[36] and the government has said it intends to eliminate it for foreign streamers.[37]

Radio. CBC Radio and Radio-Canada's radio services are funded from the same appropriation.[31] [Needs source: how CRTC streaming contributions apply to online audio and radio news.]

My view

Canada's courts have ordered the internet's largest search engine to delist results worldwide and approved self-updating blocking orders. A new regulator would decide what "foments hatred," set age checks and enforce an under-16 social media limit. A lawful-access bill would let government impose surveillance capabilities on service providers. And the news industry runs increasingly on federal tax credits, federally funded jobs and platform payments routed through Parliament's criteria, while cabinet appoints the public broadcaster's entire board. Each piece has a defensible purpose. Together, they make Ottawa the indispensable partner of Canadian information. In my opinion, a press and an internet that depend on government cannot fully hold government to account.

Sources

  1. Supreme Court of Canada, Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions Inc., 2017 SCC 34 (28 Jun 2017) — https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/16701/index.do
  2. Federal Court of Appeal, Google LLC v. Canada (Privacy Commissioner), 2023 FCA 200 — https://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/fca-caf/decisions/en/521265/1/document.do
  3. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, statement welcoming the FCA decision (3 Oct 2023) — https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/opc-news/speeches-and-statements/2023/s-d_20231003/
  4. The Globe and Mail, "Federal Court of Appeal ruling opens door for Canadians to have 'right to be forgotten' on Google" — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-federal-court-of-appeal-opens-door-to-the-right-to-be-forgotten-in-a/
  5. Federal Court of Appeal, Teksavvy Solutions Inc. v. Bell Media Inc., 2021 FCA 100 — https://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/fca-caf/decisions/en/497659/1/document.do
  6. Federal Court, Rogers Media Inc. v. John Doe 1 (dynamic blocking order) — https://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/fc-cf/decisions/en/521629/1/document.do
  7. Parliament of Canada, Bill S-209 (45-1), Third Reading text — https://www.parl.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/S-209/third-reading
  8. House of Commons, Order Paper and Notice Paper No. 150 (19 Oct 2026) — https://www.noscommunes.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/house/sitting-150/order-notice/page-6
  9. Google Transparency Report, Government requests to remove content (data download, Jan–Jun 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/government-removals/overview
  10. Parliament of Canada, LEGISinfo, Bill C-63 (44-1) — https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-63
  11. Canadian Heritage, "Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act" — https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/safe-social-media-act.html
  12. Parliament of Canada, LEGISinfo, Bill C-34 (45-1) — https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/45-1/C-34
  13. Meta Transparency Center, Content restrictions based on local law: Canada (Jul–Dec 2025 data file) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/content-restrictions/country/CA/
  14. Global News, "Ottawa, Meta remain in talks to restore news after ban tied to online bill" — https://globalnews.ca/news/11642220/canada-meta-online-news-act-talks-miller/
  15. CBC News, "Ottawa moves to restrict social media for kids under 16" — https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/online-harms-ai-social-media-children-9.7229976
  16. Parliament of Canada, LEGISinfo, Bill C-22 (45-1), Lawful Access Act, 2026 — https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-22
  17. Citizen Lab / Canadian Civil Liberties Association, "(Un)forced Errors: Analysis of Proposed Surveillance Law Expansion under Bill C-22" (2 Jun 2026) — https://citizenlab.ca/research/analysis-of-proposed-surveillance-law-expansion-under-bill-c-22/
  18. Criminal Code, section 196 (written notification of interception) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-196.html
  19. Meta Transparency Center, Government requests for user data: Canada (Jul–Dec 2025) — https://transparency.meta.com/reports/government-data-requests/country/CA/
  20. Google Transparency Report, Global requests for user information (data download, period ending 31 Dec 2025) — https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview
  21. Canada Revenue Agency, "Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit" — https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/corporations/business-tax-credits/canadian-journalism-labour-tax-credit.html
  22. Canadian Heritage, "Support for independent local journalism" (Mar 2024) — https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/03/support-for-independent-local-journalism-because-you-deserve-to-know.html
  23. Canadian Heritage, Question Period note on the Local Journalism Initiative (2024) — https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/pch%2CPCH-2024-QP-00021
  24. PSPC, Annual Report on Government of Canada Advertising Activities 2023–2024 — https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/pspc-spac/documents/rapports-reports/2023-2024/adv-pub-2023-2024-eng.pdf
  25. CRTC, Broadcasting and Telecom Decision 2024-262 (Google exemption) — https://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-262.htm
  26. CRTC, Online News Act annual report 2025 — https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/ona25.htm
  27. Online News Act, S.C. 2023, c. 23 (s.27) — https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2023_23/FullText.html
  28. Canadian Journalism Collective, eligibility to share in compensation policy — https://cjc-ccj.ca/app/uploads/2025/07/cjc-ccj-eligibility-to-share-in-compensation-policy.pdf
  29. CBC News, "Carney pledges $150M boost to 'underfunded' CBC" — https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-cbc-funding-1.7501902
  30. State Media Monitor, "Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio Canada" (2026) — https://statemediamonitor.com/2026/06/canadian-broadcasting-corporation-radio-canada-cbc/
  31. CBC/Radio-Canada, Corporate Plan Summary 2025–2026 — https://site-cbc.radio-canada.ca/documents/impact-and-accountability/finances/2025/pdfs/corporate-plan-summary-2025-2026.pdf
  32. Broadcasting Act, section 36 (CBC board of directors) — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/B-9.01/section-36.html
  33. Canadian Heritage, Independent Advisory Committee for Appointments to the CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors — https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/corporate/ministerial-council-appointments/advisory-committee-cbc-radio-canada.html
  34. Canadian Heritage, "Marie-Philippe Bouchard to become the next President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada" (Oct 2024) — https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2024/10/marie-philippe-bouchard-to-become-the-next-president-and-ceo-of-cbcradio-canada.html
  35. CRTC, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2024-121 — https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-121.htm
  36. CBC News, "Court pauses CanCon requirement for streamers" (Dec 2024) — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/cancon-canadian-content-streamers-court-netflix-disney-online-streaming-act-1.7418899
  37. Cassels, "Hitting rewind for streaming services: Canadian government confirms plan to eliminate base financial contribution requirement on foreign streamers" — https://cassels.com/insights/hitting-rewind-for-streaming-services-canadian-government-confirms-plan-to-eliminate-base-financial-contribution-requirement-on-foreign-streamers/

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