Justin Trudeau Buys Journalism

Crony capitalism makes those with connections very rich. Of course, Big Government gets something out of the bargain too, namely more power. Justin Trudeau and his party demonstrate by extending $595 million (Canadian) over 5 years in tax relief to news outlets regarded as eligible:

The federal government is giving a tax break to digital news subscribers, a refundable tax credit to news outlets and will allow non-profit media organizations to give charitable receipts to donors, all to help journalism in Canada.

But not just any journalism. Only the right kind of journalism.

Imagine if the only news available were the left-wing pablum on coercively financed PBS. That is the probable objective.

The action is a response to calls from the news industry for assistance in the face of dramatic declines in ad revenue that have forced layoffs and the closure of more than 200 news outlets.

Capitalists call this “creative destruction.” Henry Ford was hard on buggy whip manufacturers, but all of us — including former buggy whip manufacturers — are better off for his efforts. But statists call it an opportunity to acquire leverage.

Conservatives don’t like where this is heading.

“(Justin) Trudeau has just nationalized new journalism,” Conservative MP Michelle Rempel said on Twitter. “Any journo that takes this money will no longer be independent. Thus dies journalism.”

As for who qualifies as eligible,

Eligibility will be determined by the government and government-established panels. Details regarding such determinations were not provided.

If you think the establishment media leans left now, wait until it is dependent for its existence on handouts from Big Government.

On a tip from 1-Bodhisattva.

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