Ottawa, Alberta announce nearly $225M in funding to improve rural connectivity

| 01/30/2026 6:50 pm EST

The federal government has teamed up with Alberta to announce $224.8...

Feds ‘on track’ to connect every household to high-speed internet by 2030, as critics point to gaps in rural and Northern Canada

| 01/05/2026 6:36 pm EST

In 2026, 98.8 per cent of Canadian homes are...

Ottawa set to revive online harms legislation in 2026: government source

| 12/22/2025 4:44 pm EST

Justice Minister Sean Fraser had previously suggested the government...

Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption

| 12/19/2025 5:30 pm EST

On Dec. 17, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson...

Marc Miller returns to cabinet as new minister of culture and identity 

| 12/01/2025 5:15 pm EST

Marc Miller was appointed as the new minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and minister responsible for official languages Monday afternoon, Dec. 1.  The cabinet...

Conservatives attack CBC in House and Senate

Media | 05/09/2024 12:11 pm EDT

The Conservative Party launched attacks on CBC/Radio-Canada Wednesday after several days of the Bloc...

Trudeau announces AI measures will be in budget

Internet and Governance | 04/08/2024 7:43 pm EDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday that next week’s federal budget will include $2.4...

Bell confirms appearance at heritage committee; responds to criticisms over job cuts

Media | 04/04/2024 6:16 pm EDT

In the wake of recent controversy surrounding BCE Inc.’s restructuring...

Trudeau says Bell decision to cut jobs is “garbage”; CNOC not surprised

telecom | 02/09/2024 5:07 pm EST

Reaction has been swift and condemnatory to the announcement Thursday by...

Blanchet says CBC cuts at worst possible time

Internet and Governance | 12/06/2023 1:48 pm EST

The Bloc Québécois is continuing its fight against cutbacks at CBC/Radio-Canada. Tuesday in Question...

Nokia expands Canadian facility, will create 340 new jobs

telecom | 10/17/2022 5:27 pm EDT

OTTAWA–Nokia Corp. announced Monday that it is planning to expand its...

Canadian politicians condemn Russian shuttering of CBC Moscow bureau

Media | 05/19/2022 4:13 pm EDT

Canadian politicians were quick to condemn Russia’s move to close the...

Singh calls for halt of Rogers-Shaw merger, PIAC appeals to cabinet

Media | 04/27/2022 4:38 pm EDT

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called once again for the government to disallow...

CRTC opens consultation on Russia Today removal after request from Gov.

Media | 03/03/2022 5:45 pm EST

Following the issuing of an order-in-council from the cabinet on Wednesday night, and announcements from both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Pablo...

Gov. to ask CRTC to stop RT broadcasts over Ukraine invasion

Media | 02/28/2022 6:11 pm EST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday afternoon that the...

Rodriguez told to introduce news compensation by early 2022, Champagne to focus on spectrum “use it or lose it” 

Media | 12/16/2021 4:45 pm EST

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez is...

Bloc wants to work with Libs, NDP to pass bill like C-10 in minority government

Media | 09/15/2021 2:51 pm EDT

The Bloc Québécois is asking Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and NDP leader...

Singh says he’ll oppose Rogers-Shaw merger

Media | 09/10/2021 2:46 pm EDT

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is the first party leader to explicitly oppose the proposed acquisition of Shaw...

Lower your prices or else, Trudeau tells big telecom at debate

Media | 09/09/2021 11:22 am EDT

GATINEAU, Que. -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is giving Canada’s telecommunications companies an ultimatum: drive down your prices or face much more competition in the marketplace. His comments come after the second French-language leader’s debate held Wednesday,...

Broadband blues: the UBF and its discontents

telecom | 09/03/2021 5:50 pm EDT

With a federal election called for Sept. 20, parties have pledged to make Canadians’ lives better in a...

On C-10, Conservatives attacking Canadian, Quebec culture: Trudeau

Media | 05/26/2021 6:51 pm EDT

“Conservatives just don’t get it” when it comes to Bill C-10,...

Tech CEOs push Trudeau government for digital innovation projects

telecom | 10/27/2020 5:29 pm EDT

More than a 100 Canadian tech CEOs have signed an open letter calling on the Liberal government to prioritize digital innovation as a key part of Canada’s recovery from COVID-19.  Published by the Canadian Council of Innovators, the letter’s signatories come from a wide-ranging set of start-ups and established...

Private sector interest in Infrastructure Bank broadband funds ‘limited,’ PCO told

telecom | 10/16/2020 2:39 pm EDT

The federal government was told telecom companies...

Infrastructure Bank earmarks additional $1B for rural broadband

telecom | 10/01/2020 7:46 pm EDT

The Liberal government is doubling the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s...

Back to Parliament: your (pandemic) preview

Media | 09/22/2020 12:43 pm EDT

Given the precarious situation around the now-escalating COVID-19 pandemic, what will actually be...

Committee studies, reports on hold as Parliament prorogued

telecom | 08/18/2020 6:38 pm EDT

With Tuesday's prorogation of Parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has...

UPDATED: OPC now says it supports COVID-19 tracing app 

Media | 07/31/2020 8:52 am EDT

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has cleared up uncertainty about...

Assess privacy before launching contact tracing apps, advocacy groups say

telecom | 06/24/2020 5:09 pm EDT

Contact tracing apps aimed at assisting public health authorities in tracking the spread of COVID-19 shouldn't be launched before privacy commissioners across the country have...

Canada yet to make Huawei decision despite Chinese ‘pressure’

telecom | 06/22/2020 6:30 pm EDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has again refused to put a timeframe on when...

Privacy commissioner hasn’t approved new gov’t contact tracing app

telecom | 06/18/2020 3:48 pm EDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that in developing the federal...

Feds, 4 provinces not looking at COVID-19 phone tracking

telecom | 03/24/2020 12:39 pm EDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the federal government isn’t...

Telecoms close stores, offer free channels in response to COVID-19

Media | 03/16/2020 5:56 pm EDT

Telecommunication providers are closing retail stores, offering complimentary TV channels and continuing to waive overage fees on home internet plans as they respond to COVID-19. Xplornet...

‘Clock ticking’ on new content rules for web giants, Guilbeault says

Media | 01/13/2020 2:30 pm EST

The Liberal government's minority mandate means it will have to move fast on its promised new rules for Canadian content on foreign digital platforms, Heritage Minister Steven...

Wholesale-based ISPs at a ‘critical’ crossroads: CNOC’s Stein

telecom | 11/05/2019 3:22 pm EST

TORONTO — Smaller, wholesale-based internet service providers may be...

Singh says telecom affordability among number of priorities

telecom | 10/30/2019 3:13 pm EDT

OTTAWA — NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday that lowering wireless...

Consensus on ‘digital giants,’ data breaches in French debate

Media | 10/10/2019 11:57 pm EDT

Federal party leaders agreed Thursday evening in the last debate of the...

Leaders talk Netflix taxes, privacy in TVA election debate

Media | 10/02/2019 10:51 pm EDT

During the first French-language debate of the federal election campaign,...

Liberals, Conservatives promise new rules for Netflix

Media | 09/30/2019 5:27 pm EDT

The Liberal Party platform, released Sunday, includes promises of new regulations for Canadian content on...

Rogers’ new no-data-overage plan a ‘necessary’ development: analyst

telecom | 06/12/2019 6:26 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc.’s launch of a wireless plan that won’t...

Sales tax regime for digital services outdated: auditor general

Media | 05/07/2019 6:06 pm EDT

OTTAWA — Canadian companies that sell digital products which are subject...

Singh vows to ‘stand up to the rich telecommunication companies’

telecom | 03/22/2019 4:47 pm EDT

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is putting cell phone and internet affordability...

All Canadian households will have 50/10 speeds by 2030: Morneau

Media | 03/19/2019 4:03 pm EDT

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is announcing $1.7 billion in new rural broadband funding over the next 13 years, aimed at closing the speed gap between rural and urban Canada. It's part of an overall rural broadband plan announced in the Trudeau government's final...

Telus says it can manage a Huawei 5G ban after warning of costs, delay

telecom | 02/14/2019 10:58 am EST

The head of Telus Corp. says the company would be able to “adeptly”...

Financial hit of a Huawei 5G ban likely ‘non-material’ to Bell, Telus: Desjardins

telecom | 02/12/2019 4:18 pm EST

If the Canadian government eventually decides to ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks, the financial consequences suffered by Canada’s big telecom...

Maxime Bernier supports Huawei 5G ban ‘as soon as possible’

telecom | 02/06/2019 5:34 pm EST

OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People's Party of Canada and...

Bernadette Jordan tasked to ‘lead work’ to improve rural broadband

telecom | 01/29/2019 12:56 pm EST

The Prime Minister’s Office has made public the mandate letter for the...

House of Commons could face Huawei debate next week

telecom | 01/25/2019 2:26 pm EST

The Official Opposition may be gearing up to force a debate and vote in the House of Commons on a motion that says the government should ban Chinese-based telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks. The Conservatives, who have...

New rural development minister to tackle broadband availability

telecom | 01/14/2019 2:33 pm EST

After the auditor general blasted the government for not having a clear...

Most Canadians would support a Huawei 5G ban: poll

telecom | 01/09/2019 3:03 pm EST

Roughly half of Canadians support banning Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd from Canada’s 5G networks but more than a quarter have yet to make up their minds on the issue, according to a Globe and Mail/Nanos Research poll. Eighteen...

Huawei 5G decision won’t be made based on politics: Trudeau

telecom | 12/19/2018 5:14 pm EST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will rely on expert...

Huawei CFO’s arrest renews political criticisms about 5G access

telecom | 12/06/2018 6:51 pm EST

The Opposition Conservatives are re-upping calls for a ban on Huawei...

U.S. senators warn Trudeau against Huawei involvement in 5G

telecom | 10/12/2018 1:02 pm EDT

Members of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee are prodding the Canadian government to block Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd from Canada’s next generation network infrastructure, warning it might...

New NAFTA allows Super Bowl simsub ahead of SCC review

Media | 10/01/2018 7:18 pm EDT

The new trade pact forged by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to replace the...

Big concessions on NAFTA cultural exemption unlikely, experts say

Media | 09/07/2018 2:40 pm EDT

As cultural protection emerges as a last-stretch NAFTA sticking point,...

Cogeco hires lobbyist with wireless spectrum expertise

telecom | 07/03/2018 11:54 am EDT

Amir Bigloo, who has a history of successful spectrum purchases as CEO of...

CRTC calls for ISPs to pay for CanCon, ‘equitable’ OTT contributions

Media | 05/31/2018 11:18 am EDT

GATINEAU — The CRTC is recommending the government undertake a bevy of changes to the Canadian content system, including a new approach to funding content that would include...

Bell, Telus projects get go-ahead in superclusters announcement

telecom | 02/16/2018 2:24 pm EST

OTTAWA — Two “superclusters” involving BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. are...

Ian Morrison steps down from watchdog Friends

Media | 02/12/2018 1:27 pm EST

Ian Morrison, the co-founder of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, is handing over the reins of the...

PM outlines new parliamentary committee to oversee security agencies

telecom | 11/06/2017 5:33 pm EST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of a new National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians in a press release on Monday. This new body will “have the authority to review national security and intelligence activities carried out across the Government of Canada,” according to the...

Google building smart community in Toronto

telecom | 10/18/2017 8:46 pm EDT

Alphabet Inc.’s Sidewalk Labs have won a City of Toronto request for proposals to create a development...

Future reviews to determine much of DigiCanCon strategy: experts

Media | 09/28/2017 11:25 am EDT

OTTAWA — While the response to the long-awaited results of Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly’s Canadian content consultation included praise for some elements — such as a $500 million deal for Netflix Inc. to spend on content in Canada — many also pointed out that...

Limit info on smartphones at U.S. border: privacy commish

telecom | 09/19/2017 3:22 pm EDT

OTTAWA — Canadians should be exercising a fair amount of caution when...

Regulatory rejigs, cultural changes in store as Parliament resumes

Media | 09/18/2017 1:56 pm EDT

Everything old is new again when it comes to telecom and media issues...

Facebook launches AI centre in Montreal

Media | 09/15/2017 2:13 pm EDT

Facebook Inc. is opening an artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Montreal, the company...

Telecom, broadcasting lobbying hits July lag

Media | 08/16/2017 3:41 pm EDT

July lobbying activity was affected by the expected summer slowdown that comes with Parliament not...

Scheer backs Que. calls for roadside wireless coverage

telecom | 07/25/2017 4:42 pm EDT

Opposition leader Andrew Scheer has added his voice to a campaign in Quebec...

Opposition MPs say conflict of interest in Heritage office

Media | 06/15/2017 5:26 pm EDT

Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada lobbied Leslie Church, its former...

Committee’s ISP tax proposal a non-starter: PM

Media | 06/15/2017 4:29 pm EDT

OTTAWA — A House of Commons committee recommendation to expand the five-per-cent contribution broadcast...

CBC, CRTC still viewed as keepers of Canadian identity: study

Media | 06/12/2017 3:04 pm EDT

Canadians rely heaviest on CBC/Radio-Canada and the CRTC to protect...

CCSA leads March lobbying pack

Media | 04/21/2017 8:39 pm EDT

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) led the telecom field for lobbying the federal government in March, logging 15 communication reports for the month, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry. Those reports were split between organization president and CEO Jay Thomson and long-time consultant Harris Boyd, as they communicated with a variety of MPs, such as Opposition heritage critic Peter Van Loan, Liberal finance committee chair Wayne Easter and an Innovation Canada policy advisor. Boyd, who has been registered to lobby for CCSA for more than a decade, communicates with the government about CRTC broadcasting distribution regulations, namely “to ensure proposed changes do not increase license fees or financial contributions to Canadian programming or impose new obligations to carry programming...

Joly to discuss promoting CanCon with Google, Facebook

Media | 04/11/2017 8:41 pm EDT

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will travel to California later this month to meet with representatives from Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc., her office has confirmed....

Trudeau meets with YouTube head

Media | 04/07/2017 4:29 pm EDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the CEO of Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube Thursday, and used the opportunity to express “his appreciation for Google and YouTube’s continued investment in Canada and...

Facebook beefs up lobbying squad

Media | 03/21/2017 3:04 pm EDT

Facebook Inc. is increasing its government relations presence in Ottawa, with three new registrations filed with the lobbying commissioner’s office last month. According to the federal lobbyists’...

Trump, Trudeau commit to ‘further cooperation’ on cyber security

telecom | 02/13/2017 7:24 pm EST

The United States and Canada will continue co-operating on cyber security and the security of critical infrastructure, the two countries said in a joint statement Monday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Washington, D.C., for the first time since the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. Given...

Lametti, Casey take on Heritage, ISED roles

Media | 01/26/2017 8:23 pm EST

The Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Innovation, Science and Economic Development have new understudies. In a Thursday press release, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a makeover to his roster of parliamentary secretaries — who assist and support ministers in portfolio work and public duties — naming 34 people to new or renewed positions that will take effect on Jan. 30. Quebec MP David Lametti is the new parliamentary secretary to the Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, replacing Gatineau, Que., MP Greg Fergus. Lametti, formerly the parliamentary secretary...

Facebook working on increasing monetization for news media: exec

Media | 11/23/2016 10:05 pm EST

MONTREAL — Facebook Inc. is increasing opportunities for the news media to monetize content, the company’s Canadian head of public policy said Wednesday, citing initiatives...

Trudeau responds to CIPF concern

Media | 10/26/2016 8:57 pm EDT

Even though the CRTC is an arms-length organization, there is “a lot this government can do directly to support artists and creators across this country,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, in response...

Freeland says ball in E.U.’s court as future of CETA remains uncertain

telecom | 10/24/2016 9:03 pm EDT

Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland told reporters Monday that the decision last week to end discussions with the European Union over the Canada-European Union...

ACTRA Toronto writes to Trudeau, Joly over CIPF decision

Media | 09/07/2016 5:14 pm EDT

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)’s Toronto branch is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to “call on...

Telecom policy should focus on innovation, not competition: report

telecom | 03/03/2016 10:34 pm EST

Shaw Communications Inc.'s acquisition of Wind Mobile has fulfilled the previous federal government's push for four national carriers, which means the new government has the chance to hit the...

Shaw says timing, current market dynamics made Wind deal attractive

Media | 12/17/2015 3:43 pm EST

The economics of entering Canada’s wireless market through the acquisition of Wind Mobile today are better than past opportunities Shaw Communications Inc. has had to enter the mobile sector,...

Trudeau tells Bains to boost broadband coverage

Media | 11/13/2015 9:34 pm EST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains to increase “high-speed broadband coverage and work to support competition, choice and availability of...

Trudeau promises $150M in new CBC funding

telecom | 09/22/2015 5:32 pm EDT

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that he would provide $150 million in new annual funding for CBC/Radio-Canada if the Liberals win the federal election in October. That will reverse cuts made to CBC by the Conservative...

Where federal parties stand on telecom, media issues

Media | 09/09/2015 4:48 pm EDT

Telecommunications and media have not been prominent issues in this year's federal election campaign, taking a backseat to things such as the Mike Duffy trial, the deficit and Syrian refugees. The Wire Report has made repeated attempts to talk with the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP about their stances toward telecom and media, but has been largely ignored. However, here is a look at statements, documents and publicly disclosed initiatives of the three major parties that are indicative of the positions they hold on telecom and media, or have at least held recently. Conservatives As...

Netflix customers should voluntarily pay sales tax: report

Media | 08/10/2015 6:48 pm EDT

Canadian customers of Netflix Inc. are theoretically obliged to pay sales taxes on this service, even though Netflix does not collect the tax up front, the Toronto Star quoted a federal official as...

Harper comes out against ‘Netflix tax’ in video

Media | 08/06/2015 1:52 pm EDT

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday posted a video of himself on Twitter standing in front of a screen with a Netflix logo and criticizing calls for taxes on video-streaming services. In the video, Harper said he is a fan...

Mulcair denounces Glover statements on Netflix regulation

Media | 10/08/2014 8:11 pm EDT

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Tom Mulcair on Wednesday denounced Heritage Minister Shelly Glover's statements that ruled out regulation for online video services such as Netflix and YouTube, which...

Government blamed for CRTC predicament on Netflix

Media | 09/29/2014 2:49 pm EDT

The federal government’s pursuit of a consumer-driven broadcasting policy instead of a more comprehensive digital strategy has left the CRTC in a difficult position when it comes to regulating Internet video services, says...

Shelly Glover rules out Internet-TV regulation

Media | 09/11/2014 2:22 pm EDT

Heritage Minister Shelly Glover says the government will not allow new taxes or regulations on Internet-based television services. Glover, the federal minister responsible for the CRTC, said so in a statement sent Monday night that responded to a presentation in the CRTC's Let's Talk TV hearings earlier in the day from Kevin Finnerty, Ontario's assistant deputy minister for tourism, culture and sport. Finnerty suggested that new media broadcasting services be regulated and required to contribute to Canadian content. "At the hearings, the Ontario Liberal government made a...