Choice and Content: Media ownership and democratic ideals in Canada

Abstract

This article explores concerns regarding media ownership in Canada from a “marketplace of ideas” perspective. It assesses evidence indicating whether the ideals associated with this perspective are threatened and proposes steps that seem best suited to achieving those broad ideals. It concludes that regulations limiting ownership levels by single corporations combined with relaxed foreign ownership controls would likely increase the range of choice and diversity of content in the news media. The latter, it also suggests, would allow regulators to more effectively enforce the ownership guidelines already in place for maintaining a vibrant and competitive media market.