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ontario news watch
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"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

The late President Ronald Reagan made that summary in the context of American politics.  In Canada, the approach is a bit different: If it moves, subsidize it.  If it keeps moving, subsidize it some more.  And if it stops moving, subsidize the hellout of it.  And tax and regulate it here and there, depending on what you can get away with.  But mostly subsidize it.

And so, apparently fearful that Canada's news industry will stop moving at any moment, Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced a $600 million package of tax credits and incentives, to be allocated over the next five years "to help support journalism in Canada," in particular "independent news media."  As a writer for an independent news site, it's in my financial interest to hail this announcement.  Unfortunately for Liberals hoping for a tidal wave of gratitude, it's also in my ethical interest to wish it had never been made.

From what little we were told on Wednesday, the details are as follows:

  • a tax credit for the cost of labour in the production of original news content;
  • a temporary tax credit for subscribers to digital news websites;
  • permission for non-profit media outlets to seek charitable status and obtain funding from other charities;
  • an independent panel to determine which outlets are eligible for the above.

The last of these measures is the most worrisome, according to a sample of Canada's most high-profile news commentators that includes the National Post's Chris SelleyPaul Wells of Maclean's, freelancer Jen Gerson, and Global's Matt Gurney.  Even if it means enough money to ensure their continued employment, and to employ other aspiring journalists in turn, they're not having this.

It's not helpful at this time to suggest that Canada is on track to become the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Détente has threatened critical media outlets with indictments on spurious charges of tax evasion.  Or Saudi Arabia, where . . . you know.  But even in the freest of nations, journalists should instinctively raise an eyebrow at the notion of being drawn closer to the government.  Without direct prompt, their more money-driven bosses may decide that content changes are necessary to keep this new revenue stream open.  The real threat isn't political persecution, but that the nation's news industry will go the way of its arts and literature industries: dull, unchallenging, cliché-ridden, made for subsidies first and consumers later.

(Which reminds me: If anyone in charge of scripted television at CBC is reading this, ask me about my pitch for a children's series about a father-and-daughter pair of St. John's cod catchers and their friendly Newfoundland dog, Seamus.  The working title is Where Y'At, B'y?  Rick Mercer can be the voice of Seamus, Alan Doyle can perform the theme song. . . . Come on, this concept writes itself!)

Unsurprisingly, the most overheated opposition has come from the Opposition, here led by Conservative MPs Michelle Rempel and Pierre Poilievre, who see this as a move by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to kill "free speech."  For the Tories to be taken seriously on this file, they will have to disband the eligibility panel and roll up each tax credit the very first day that Andrew Scheer takes office if to spare the media from living under the government's thumb one day longer than necessary.  Unless they decide that this is a great way to keep, say, Sun Media printing a steady supply of groveling op-eds.  That prospect alone should give pause even to the most sycophantic Liberal supporters, within or outside the media.

So should the government simply do nothing, and allow a media industry already crippled by shrinking advertising revenue continue to wither away?  I once worked for a news channel that never turned a profit.  I and about 200 other people lost their jobs on Friday, February 13, 2015.  It wasn't bad luck; it was bad business.  Some outlets adapt and thrive in an increasingly ad-free world, and some do not.  But ex-journos find new employers, ex-readers find new sources, and the world keeps turning.

If independent and honest news media is your priority, the last thing you'll accept is the state getting more involved than before.  They should do their real jobs so journalists can do theirs.

Written by Jess Morgan

The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.