Newspaper closures prompt petition
Posted Nov 29, 2017 12:30:37 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — One of the capital’s community associations is taking action over the impending closure of local weekly newspapers, both in Ottawa and across Ontario — the result of the recent business deal between Torstar and Postmedia.
The Elmvale Acres Community Association has launched an online petition to the Competition Bureau of Canada, to show support for community newspapers.
“I don’t think a business deal like this can be allowed to pass if it’s going to involve stripping away the voice of dozens of communities across Ontario,” said A.J. Blauer, vice-president, Elmvale Acres Community Association.
The Competition Bureau has already said it would review the Torstar-Postmedia deal, but Blauer says the association’s petition aims to show the bureau the significance of the potential loss of local weekly newspapers.
“Who’s going to describe the issues that each community is facing?” asked Blauer, pointing to next year’s provincial and municipal elections? “Who’s going to provide that in-depth description of the people seeking candidacy?”
The petition can be found on the Elmvale Acres Community Association’s website.
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