Hon. Andrew Cardozo: My question is for the Government Representative.

News Media Canada is calling for the federal government to spend at least 25% of its advertising budget on traditional Canadian media.

It appears that of the $86 million spent by the government in advertising last year, only 1% was spent on Canadian newspapers. There are at least three reasons to spend more in Canada. First, buy Canadian. Build a strong Canadian news media sector and build a strong Canadian economy. Second, support Canadian media rather than the American-owned media. Third, support avenues for less disinformation coming from abroad. This is one way to financially support strengthening news media in Canada without an increased cost to the treasury.

My question is: Could the government review its advertising program and make sure we spend the majority, that is over 50% — News Media Canada is suggesting 25%, I’m suggesting the majority — of its advertising dollars in Canada on Canadian news media?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question and for your continued advocacy in this important area.

I certainly will communicate your recommendations to the government as well as those to which you made reference.

This government is focusing and will continue to focus on serving Canadians, and that includes making sure that Canadians have access, in all respects, to credible and a variety of sources of information. I certainly will communicate your questions and your concerns to the government.

Senator Cardozo: Thank you for that, Senator Gold. A lot of the precise information on spending is hard to get a hold of. Could you please ask the minister responsible for the Advertising Services Directorate, who is the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, to provide figures and detail about how much has been spent in recent years and how much is planned for this year and next year, and with a breakdown on Canadian and foreign media for print, broadcast and online media?

Senator Gold: I will certainly add that to my inquiry.