INK IN ACTION
We are running two campaigns:
We are running two campaigns:
- we have a petition on change.org
- we proposed a resolution to Region of Waterloo council (passed unanimously on June 3, 2020)
Petition
Given that the creation and distribution of reliable information is crucial for our individual and collective well-being, democracy and civil society;
Given the point to which digital platforms have evolved during the past decade has severely damaged an ecosystem that enables news outlets to provide reliable information (the damage is evident from the number of established news media outlets that closed or merged in Canada since 2008, and has become more critical due to the novel coronavirus pandemic).
We encourage our elected leaders to enact legislation to shape an ecosystem that supports one of the crucial foundations of a functioning democracy: reliable, local journalism.
Given that the creation and distribution of reliable information is crucial for our individual and collective well-being, democracy and civil society;
Given the point to which digital platforms have evolved during the past decade has severely damaged an ecosystem that enables news outlets to provide reliable information (the damage is evident from the number of established news media outlets that closed or merged in Canada since 2008, and has become more critical due to the novel coronavirus pandemic).
We encourage our elected leaders to enact legislation to shape an ecosystem that supports one of the crucial foundations of a functioning democracy: reliable, local journalism.
Resolution to local councils
Our thanks go out to Region of Waterloo councillors who unanimously passed the resolution below on June 3, 2020.
Since then, municipal councillors have passed similar resolutions in:
- City of Waterloo, ON (June 22, 2020)
- Township of North Dumfries, ON (June 22, 2020)
- Township of Wilmot, ON (June 22, 2020)
- Township of Woolwich, ON (June 23, 2020)
- Township of Wellesley, ON (June 30, 2020)
- City of Hamilton, ON (July 17, 2020)
- City of Windsor, ON (Aug. 24, 2020)
- City of Kingston, ON (Sept. 1, 2020)
- City of Cambridge, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- Town of LaSalle, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- Town of Essex, ON (Sept. 8, 2020)
- City of Kitchener, ON (Sept. 14, 2020)
Please consider taking the resolution to your local council, too. We can help! Tell us about your projects so that we can compile a list of actions taking place across Canada, and give you a shout out on our social media channels.
Resolution passed by Region of Waterloo:
Whereas a healthy, professional news media is essential for the proper functioning of civil society and democracy at the local, regional, federal and international levels;
Whereas the Public Policy Forum declares — on its website for the 2017 report The Shattered Mirror: News, Democracy and Trust in the Digital Age (commissioned by the federal government) — that “real news is in crisis” in this country;
Whereas the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cited eight “critical information needs” the media help to provide including emergencies; other public risks to health; education; the environment; economic opportunities; civic and political knowledge of policy initiatives; and the conduct of public officials, and candidates for office (The Shattered Mirror p.4);
Whereas Canadians have lost the essential services provided by nearly 500 journalists due to layoffs in the Canadian media just from the time the COVID-19 pandemic began to mid-April — a time it became clearer to the public how important it is for Canadians to receive accurate information — and advertising revenues have plunged, prompting an emergency $30-million advertising-buy by the federal government;
Whereas residents of 190 Canadian communities — including residents of Kitchener, Elmira and Guelph — lost 250 established news outlets due to closings or mergers between 2008 and 2018;
Whereas nearly two out of every three Canadians support or somewhat support sending financial aid to struggling news providers, according to a Nanos Research poll of April 2020;
Whereas the federal government allocated nearly $600 million in aid for Canadian media over five years in its 2019 budget, including a 25-per-cent tax credit for newsroom salaries; a 15-per-cent tax credit for digital media subscribers; and charitable tax status for non-profit news outlets;
Whereas Canada’s federal government acknowledged in its 2019 budget (p. 173) that “A strong and independent news media is crucial to a well-functioning democracy.”;
Whereas the news media in Waterloo Region have been instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring local citizens have accurate local information;
Therefore Be It Resolved that Waterloo Regional Council recognizes that a healthy, professional news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in the region; urges other municipal councils within the region and across Canada to recognize that a robust news media is essential to the proper functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions; endorses legislation and regulations to support and rejuvenate news outlets across Canada; and urges the federal government to move quickly to pass legislation to ensure an ecosystem for a healthy news media to serve all Canadians. And that the resolution be forwarded to the area municipalities, local M.P.s and M.P.P.s and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of Municipalities of Ontario.