Subhead:At the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Ottawa, independent journalist Elie Cantin-Nantel sounded the alarm over the future of Canadian media, warning that Liberal legislation like Bill C-18 and Bill C-11 is making it harder for new independent outlets to survive.#
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In an interview with Rebel News, Elie Cantin-Nantel argued that government censorship, subsidies for legacy media, and press-gallery gatekeeping are creating a media landscape where independent voices are pushed out while establishment outlets remain protected.
Former True North journalist Elie Cantin-Nantel says Canada’s independent media sector is being crushed by Liberal legislation — and he knows it firsthand.
“When I decided to go on my own, I wanted to start a news organization,” he explained. “But the problem is, if you start a news organization in Canada today, you are censored on Facebook and Instagram because of Bill C-18.”
Decentralizing the News: Why the Future of Discourse is Independent.
A sharp panel at CSFN Ottawa 2026 on one of the most important shifts of our time: how Canadians get their news, and who gets to tell the story.
Jasmin Laine, political commentator, award-winning former… pic.twitter.com/72lYvosISY
— Canada Strong and Free Network (@canstrongfree) May 7, 2026
Cantin-Nantel did not mince words, calling Bill C-18 “the worst piece of legislation a government has ever passed.” According to him, the Liberals’ answer is not real media freedom, but more government money for outlets they prefer.
