Like the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), PSAC-Quebec has announced it will suspend all advertising purchases from Meta (Facebook, Instagram), which refuses to negotiate fair royalties with our media following the federal government’s passage of Bill C-18. The FTQ will do the same with Google if it follows through on its threats to boycott Quebec and Canadian media.
“Our relationship with and support for Quebec media, as well as our members’ and the public’s right to access quality local information, are far too important to let these Internet giants go unchallenged. We’ll stay on the platforms so we can keep in touch with our members, but for now, these greedy corporations won’t see another ad dollar from us,” maintained PSAC-Quebec Executive Vice-President Yvon Barrière.
Meta decided to retaliate against the new law by removing Canadian media content from its platforms. “For the FTQ, this is a matter of principle. Meta’s actions are undemocratic, arrogant and unsubtle. Depriving the public of reliable information is an unprecedented form of blackmail and we call on the new Minister of Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, to resist this despicable strategy,” commented FTQ President Magali Picard.
The Big Five, which Meta is a part of, profit from news and media but don’t pay a penny to those who work hard to create this valuable content. “The Big Five are casually benefiting from workers’ talent and media companies’ investments. They are profiting from work that does not belong to them. We must show solidarity and pride in our media by supporting them,” Magali Picard added.
“As a former journalist, I am outraged by Meta’s response. It has even refused to negotiate any agreements though the Act only comes into force in December. This condescending attitude is patently irresponsible. That’s why the FTQ has joined its voice in condemning this act of intimidation fuelled entirely by greed. We urge activists and the public to get their news straight from the source via websites and apps belonging to providers of verified, quality media content,” concluded FTQ Secretary General Denis Bolduc.