THE QUÉBEC GOVERNMENT MUST CANCEL EXCESSIVE RECYCLING FEES FOR PRINT NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
An alliance of Québec newspapers and magazines is sounding the alarm about the unfair and ruinous effects of Québec’s selective collection reform. Far from delivering the promised equity, these new rules pose yet another existential threat to print media in Québec.
Together, we reach millions of readers for whom print remains the medium of choice. It is to ensure that they can continue reading newspapers and magazines in their preferred format that we are joining forces. It’s a matter of respect and generational fairness.
Drastic and disastrous increase
We are asking the Québec government to exempt us from the excessive fees imposed by the new collection system, and we call on Premier François Legault to resolve this issue before the end of his term.
The introduction of the new collection regime in January 2025 triggered a dramatic increase in these fees despite the steady decline in the quantities of paper declared and marketed. The situation will only worsen, with additional increases expected in the coming years.
Paradoxically, the less paper we use, the higher our recycling bill climbs. This clearly shows that the new system has replicated the flaws of the old system, which the government meant to correct.
The situation is untenable for us as we contend with profound structural challenges, including the relentless erosion of advertising revenues, declining circulation and the suffocating dominance of the web giants.
Content isn’t packaging
To be clear, we understand the need for a recyclable materials collection system for “containers” such as the home delivery boxes used by foreign online vendors. However, a fundamental distinction must be made in the case of newspapers and magazines, where the content cannot be separated from the container. Taxing the paper on which they are printed is not the same as taxing packaging: it means taxing content that is of fundamental value to our society, produced by local professionals specifically for Québec readers. This distinction was made in the past when the Québec government exempted books from recycling collection fees.
That decision to support the diversity of cultural expression should logically be extended to our print media outlets, which are a bulwark against cultural globalization and a shield against misinformation. In a geopolitical landscape scarred by fake news and weakened institutions under stress from social media, the international digital behemoths and other pressures, preserving local print media should be a priority. Our media outlets form a comprehensive ecosystem that provides many direct and indirect jobs. Every dollar spent on local media stays in Québec’s economy. And contrary to some perceptions, demand for print remains robust: millions of Quebecers continue to buy our print formats, which are indispensable for bridging the digital divide—especially in rural areas, among seniors, and in less connected households.
Act now!
Over the years, the Québec government has introduced significant measures to support print media. But this misguided reform flies in the face of public policies designed to revitalize the media sector.
The Québec government must swiftly rectify this situation by exempting print media from recycling fees. Must we wait for media outlets to shut down before action is taken?
A government that defends Québec’s interests must champion an industry of such vital importance, not strangle it.
George Guzmas and Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec, Le Devoir, The Globe and Mail, The Gazette, L’Actualité and RICARDO; the print publications of TVA Publications, Pratico-Pratiques, KO Média, Bayard Presse Canada and Naître et grandir; and the Association québécoise des éditeurs de magazines (AQEM), RecycleMédias and Hebdos Québec.
