The Wire Report

The ‘obvious candidate’: Jeanne Pratt favoured by lawyers, academics to take over as competition commissioner - The Wire Report Acting competition commissioner Jeanne Pratt may soon have the ‘acting’ tag removed from her job title, according to leading legal scholars and competition lawyers.

Acting competition commissioner Jeanne Pratt may soon have the ‘acting’ tag removed from her job title, according to leading legal scholars and competition lawyers:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/10/j...

TikTok, Ottawa settle national security dispute with data security, oversight deal - The Wire Report Under the terms of the deal, TikTok must implement stronger measures to protect Canadian user data, including enhanced “security gateways” and “privacy-enhancing technologies.”

The federal government has reached an agreement with TikTok that will allow the social media platform to continue its Canadian operations under new data security and oversight conditions.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/10/t...

Bloc MP upset Radio-Canada news to be aired on U.S. streaming service before Canadian platform, launches heritage committee study - The Wire Report The Crown corporation announced on March 5 that shows from CBC News Network and ICI RDI are now available on Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime Video.

The Bloc Québécois is denouncing CBC/Radio-Canada for allowing French-language news content to run on an American streaming service without airing the programming on its own platform — and initiated a committee study to investigate the decision.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/10/b...

ISED eyes ‘subscriber’ approach to spectrum access for drones, as Canada’s telcos worry about liability - The Wire Report Some telcos are worried ISED's proposal to allow drone operators to use spectrum that is already licensed could leave the burden of compliance on network operators, and interfere with cell coverage.

Some telcos are worried ISED's proposal to allow drone operators to use commercial spectrum that is already licensed could leave the burden of compliance on network operators, and interfere with cell coverage:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/09/i...

Canadian Internet Society advocates for overhaul of CRTC - The Wire Report It is the most recent of a series of background studies on the digital economy by the group.

The Canadian Internet Society is calling for a massive overhaul of the CRTC in a white paper released on Monday, which says the commission has not kept pace with society's digital transformation.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/09/c...

A court challenge has put the streaming act on hold — but some U.S. companies are still sending money to Canadian funds (and no one knows why) - The Wire Report As the cultural sector awaits a court ruling that could force streaming companies to help produce Canadian content, money has already started to quietly flow to select Canadian funding agencies.

As the cultural sector awaits a court ruling that could force streaming companies to redirect millions of dollars to help produce Canadian content, money has already started to quietly flow to select Canadian funding agencies, The Wire Report has learned:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/09/c...

A court challenge has put the streaming act on hold — but some U.S. companies are still sending money to Canadian funds (and no one knows why) - The Wire Report As the cultural sector awaits a court ruling that could force streaming companies to help produce Canadian content, money has already started to quietly flow to select Canadian funding agencies.

As the cultural sector awaits a court ruling that could force streaming companies to redirect millions of dollars to help produce Canadian content, money has already started to quietly flow to select Canadian funding agencies, The Wire Report has learned:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/09/c...

Appeals court dismisses Rogers challenge of CRTC standstill ruling in Corus channel dispute - The Wire Report The appeals court upheld two regulatory rulings confirming the media giant cannot repackage or move specialty channels owned by Corus until their ongoing dispute over the terms of carrying those chann...

The Federal Court of Appeal has thrown out a challenge by Rogers against the #CRTC’s use of the standstill rule in its fight with Corus over TV channel placement and packaging:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/06/a...

CBC/Radio-Canada announced a new agreement with Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service, bringing the organization’s French- and English-language news channels to the platform.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/06/c...

CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides has raised the stakes on a forthcoming court decision on the efforts of U.S. streaming companies to be absolved of mandated funding contributions for Canadian news and cultural organizations.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/06/q...

Q&A: CRTC chair opens door to raising base contribution level following court ruling on Online Streaming Act - The Wire Report CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides has raised the stakes on a forthcoming court decision on the efforts of U.S. streaming companies to be absolved of mandated funding contributions for Canadian news and cultur...

CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides has raised the stakes on a forthcoming court decision on the efforts of U.S. streaming companies to be absolved of mandated funding contributions for Canadian news and cultural organizations.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/06/q...

Competition Tribunal scraps Google’s Charter appeal, says it does not pass ‘true penal consequence’ test - The Wire Report The Charter appeal was filed in February 2025, when Google responded to the Competition Bureau’s 2024 lawsuit alleging it engaged in anti-competitive conduct in the online advertising market.

The Competition Tribunal has canned Google’s Charter appeal, allowing a lawsuit based on the company’s alleged anti-competitive conduct to proceed, saying it failed to meet the “indisputably high bar” of the true penal consequence test.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/05/c...

Former Quebecor exec Marc M. Tremblay joins telco’s board - The Wire Report Tremblay’s arrival coincides with the departure of two current directors, Chantal Bélanger and Érik Péladeau, both of whom recently announced they will not seek re-election.

Tremblay’s arrival coincides with the departure of two current Quebecor directors, Chantal Bélanger and Érik Péladeau, both of whom recently announced they will not seek re-election:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/05/f...

CTA co-hosting conference on Canadian telecom issues in May - The Wire Report Topics to be discussed include resilience, connectivity, cell coverage, preventing frauds and scams, and the general economic health of the industry.

The present and future of Canadian telecom will be studied at a one-day conference to be held in Ottawa in May, co-hosted by the Canadian Telecommunications Association and GSMA.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/05/c...

Global telecom coalition issues new 6G security principles focusing on quantum safety, AI integration - The Wire Report Canada is leading the group’s steering committee until the end of this year.

Canada and its international partners in the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT) announced a new set of principles for 6G security and resilience at the Mobile World Congress.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/04/g...

Telus to offer satellite cellular connectivity in late 2026 - The Wire Report Using AST SpaceMobile’s low Earth orbit satellite constellation, combined with Telus’ wireless network, the press release said the partnership will help “eliminate connectivity gaps across Canada.”

Telus Corp. is partnering with AST SpaceMobile, Inc. to deliver a direct-to-cell satellite service in order to bring connectivity to the country’s more isolated regions.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/04/t...

'The engine that supports Canada's innovation': CENGN CEO wants to help small-businesses advance in high-tech sphere - The Wire Report In an exclusive interview, CENGN CEO Sandra Cutrona said the organization foresees expansion into areas like defence, artificial intelligence, and public safety.

Small- and medium-sized businesses wanting to get a foothold in the high-tech sector frequently need some assistance — and, for many of them, that helping hand comes from the Centre for Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN).

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/04/t...

Cultural groups eye future collaboration with Mexican counterparts after trade mission - The Wire Report The delegation of 37 organizations which made the trip in February, was one of the largest parties Canada has ever sent abroad.

A recent trade mission to Mexico that included 37 Canadian cultural organizations is being heralded as a success by participants.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/03/c...

Liberals discontinue temporary funding supports for CBC - The Wire Report Government funding for CBC/Radio-Canada is set to fall by $192 million during the 2026-27 fiscal year, as Ottawa opted not to continue provisional funding boosts for the public broadcaster.

Government funding for @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social is set to fall by $192 million during the 2026-27 fiscal year, as Ottawa opted not to continue provisional funding boosts for the public broadcaster: #cdnpoli

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/02/l...

Liberals discontinue temporary funding supports for CBC - The Wire Report Government funding for CBC/Radio-Canada is set to fall by $192 million during the 2026-27 fiscal year, as Ottawa opted not to continue provisional funding boosts for the public broadcaster.

Government funding for @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social is set to fall by $192 million during the 2026-27 fiscal year, as Ottawa opted not to continue provisional funding boosts for the public broadcaster:
#cdnpoli

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/02/l...

Independent television stations accuse Meta of stealing content, seek negotiations - The Wire Report Local television stations maintain their content has been uploaded to Facebook, despite Meta claiming it no longer permits the distribution of news to Canadian users.

Local TV stations say their content has been uploaded to Facebook, despite Meta claiming it no longer permits the distribution of news to Canadian users.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/02/i...

Ex-Competition Bureau head Matthew Boswell joins Norton Rose Fulbright - The Wire Report Canada’s longest-serving Competition Bureau commissioner has joined the British-American legal giant Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in the firm’s antitrust and competition branch.

Matthew Boswell, Canada’s longest-serving Competition Bureau commissioner, has joined the British-American legal giant Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in the firm’s antitrust and competition branch:

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/02/e...

SpaceX receives support from Indigenous groups, Rogers to utilize E-band frequencies in Quebec and Alberta - The Wire Report The Native Women’s Association of the N.W.T. said, as the digital demand continues to grow, it is important providers serving rural and remote communities “have access to the spectrum required to meet...

The Native Women’s Association of the N.W.T. said, as the digital demand continues to grow, it is important providers serving rural and remote communities “have access to the spectrum required to meet future needs.”

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/03/02/s...

BREAKING: Telus, Bell drop wholesale fibre access dispute - The Wire Report The sudden change of pace, in an argument that has been escalating since January, was revealed in a staff letter addressed to both companies from the CRTC on Feb. 27.

BREAKING: BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. have dropped their dispute over wholesale fibre access on each others’ networks, as revealed in a CRTC staff letter.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/27/b...

CRTC updates strategic plan two years after implementation - The Wire Report The commission says its vision is to be a modern, inclusive and timely regulator that will connect Canadians through technology and culture.

The CRTC says its vision is to be a modern, inclusive and timely regulator that will connect Canadians through technology and culture — and it has a three-pronged approach to achieve those goals.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/27/c...

Feds cut CRTC budget by more than $4M - The Wire Report A CRTC spokesperson said the regulator expected the cut, adding that it is not projected to impact the organization’s day-to-day business.

The CRTC’s year-over-year resources will drop by $4.3 million, as the federal government cut the regulator’s organizational funding by 20 per cent.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/27/f...

Q&A: CIRA CEO worries Canadian web traffic could be exploited by the U.S. - The Wire Report Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) CEO Byron Holland is a vocal supporter of a free and open internet — but that doesn’t mean he wants foreign entities to have access to Canadian web traf...

Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) CEO Byron Holland is a vocal supporter of a free and open internet — but that doesn’t mean he wants foreign entities to have access to Canadian web traffic.

Read the full interview here.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/27/q...

‘Godfather of AI’ says Canada must align with medium-sized countries to force U.S. tech companies into regulation tent - The Wire Report Canadian Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton told a Senate committee that Canada does not have the resources to take meaningful steps in AI regulation – at least, not alone.

Canadian Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton told a Senate committee that Canada does not have the resources to take meaningful steps in AI regulation – at least, not alone. 

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/27/g...

Maybe ChatGPT it? Ottawa unsure how to regulate AI chatbots following Tumbler Ridge report - The Wire Report A government source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely, said an internal decision has yet to be made and emphasized that the situation remains “unpredictable.”

After meeting with OpenAI to discuss the company’s failure to alert law enforcement of troubling behaviour from the Tumbler Ridge shooter, Evan Solomon’s message was clear — action must be taken.

He’s just not sure what exactly needs to be done, or by whom.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/26/m...

Online dangers keep claiming the lives of Canadian children. Five years on, advocates are still waiting for Ottawa to act - The Wire Report How many kids in Canada need to die before the federal government treats online harms as a crisis, asks child protection advocate Sara Austin.

How many kids in Canada need to die before the federal government treats online harms as a crisis?

That’s the question child protection advocate Sara Austin asks herself about the absence of legislation that protects young people online.

www.thewirereport.ca/2026/02/26/o...