Ottawa City HallVoteTracker

2022–2026 term

City CouncilMeeting 18

Motion – Councillor L. Dudas - Meta advertising

Council was asked to

  1. any new, non-critical advertising campaigns by Public Information and Media Relations, at the discretion of the Chief Communications Officer, be suspended on ALL Meta-owned platforms
  2. the suspension last until Meta resumes discussions with the Government of Canada, or reverses its ban on placing Canadian media news stories on its platforms
  3. this motion be shared with the Ontario Premier’s Office, local Members of Parliament, local Members of Provincial Parliament, and all Ontario municipalities.
Lost

11 for, 12 against

Affects
City-wide
Agenda item
21.1
Motion number
2023 - 18-18

How each member voted

The recitals

  • That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to consider the following motion as the regular next City Council meeting is not until August 23, 2023.
  • Meta has announced it has already started blocking Canadian news content and links on its Instagram and Facebook platforms
  • Meta has categorically refused to comply with the federal Online News Act, and instead chosen to disadvantage 40 million Canadians, including over 1 million plus Ottawa residents, by removing the ability to share local and national news on their platforms
  • in the past several years, Ottawa has faced horrendous natural disasters, including tornadoes, flooding, a derecho, ice storms, and heat waves; as well as other emergencies, such as last year’s convoy; and most significantly a global pandemic; in all of these situations, the ability to share local news with residents was critically essential
  • Meta’s decision would severely impact the ability of both the City of Ottawa, and individual Members of Council, to share information with residents; and eliminate our ability to share critical updates from local media
  • recognizing that utilizing all available media, may at times be required for disseminating critical and public safety information, as well, that existing communication plans may contain budgetary and contractual legal obligations
  • Ottawa residents have a fundamental right to a strong, free, and independent Press, one that is not censored by American social media giants
  • access to reliable, quality news information, prepared by independent journalists and media, is essential to any healthy, functioning democracy.

Check it yourself

This entry was transcribed from the City Clerk's official minutes. If anything here looks wrong, the minutes are the authority.

Read the official minutes