The federal government has confirmed it will suspend all advertising on social media giants Facebook and Instagram, in the wake of parent company Meta refusing to compensate news organizations for use of their news stories online.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez (pictured) cites Meta’s stance “unreasonable” and “irresponsible” decision to pull Canadian news from its platforms in response to the Online News Act. That stance is what triggered today’s decision to drop all government advertising on Meta-owned properties.

The federal government’s Online News Act, C-18, passed Parliament nearly two weeks ago. It requires online social media titans such as Google and Meta to pay for content that originated from other news sources, namely newspapers, magazines and at times radio and television stations.

Quebecor Media has also announced it will suspend advertising on Meta-owned properties.

Both Meta and Google have announced since the bill passed they will block Canadian news in response to the Act.

(Photo courtesy of Mélanie Provencher, House of Commons Photo Services)