Stay connected: Bill C-18, social media and search

Hi there,

As you may be aware, Bill C-18: An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada, became law on June 22, 2023, requiring tech companies that use content from news media in Canada to pay for it. 

However, the tech companies are pushing back and that puts Canadian publications of all sizes, including Convenience Store News Canada + OCTANE, in a challenging position.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, released a statement that said: “Publishers choose to share their content because it benefits them to do so, whereas it isn’t particularly valuable to us at all. As such, we’ve taken the difficult decision that if this flawed legislation is passed, we will have to end the availability of news content on Facebook and Instagram in Canada.”

And Google said in its statement: “We have now informed the Government that when the law takes effect, we unfortunately will have to remove links to Canadian news from our Search, News and Discover products in Canada, and that C-18 will also make it untenable for us to continue offering our Google News Showcase product in Canada.”

As a business-to-business publication, we are watching the situation closely: Many of our readers access our news articles, awards announcements, event information and thought leadership pieces via our social media posts and through search.

Like many Canadian publishers, we do not know if or when our readers will stop being able to see and search our articles.

However, we don’t want anyone to miss out!

What can you do to keep reading our content?

The good news is, if you already subscribe to our digital and print offerings - thank you - you're fine.

If not, you can continue to access important news and information related to the convenience, gas and car wash industries by SIGNING UP HERE for our free digital newsletters (make sure to add use to your safe sender list so we don’t end up in your spam).

• The All Convenience newsletter is delivered to your in-box Monday and Wednesday mornings.
• We also share timely Breaking News when appropriate.
• The monthly New on Shelf newsletter (sent the first Thursday of every month) showcases new products hitting c-store shelves.  
• Add our homepage to your bookmarks HERE and allow for notifications. CCentral.ca has always maintained a paywall-free website for all visitors and we will continue to do so.  

And while you’re at it, please take this opportunity to SUBSCRIBE HERE to the Digital Edition of CSNC + OCTANE magazine, which is published six times a year.

Our team is committed to ensuring easy access to our content, as well as being a touchpoint for leaders, retailers, vendors and distributors across Canada.

Thank you for your continued support,

Michelle Warren

Editor + Associate Publisher

Convenience Store News Canada + OCTANE