An alliance of Québec newspapers and magazines is sounding the alarm about the unfair and damaging effects of Québec’s recycling 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. We are joining forces to ensure they can continue accessing newspapers and magazines in their preferred format. This is a matter of respect and generational fairness.
Drastic and disastrous increase
We are asking the Québec government to exempt print media 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 regime in January 2025 triggered a sharp increase in these fees despite the steady decline in the quantities of paper declared and marketed. The situation is expected to worsen, with further increases projected in the coming years.
Paradoxically, the less paper we use, the higher our recycling bill becomes. This clearly shows that the new system has reproduced the flaws of the old one it was meant to correct.
The situation is untenable as we face profound structural challenges, including the ongoing erosion of advertising revenues, declining circulation and the overwhelming dominance of web giants.
Content isn’t packaging
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 for newspapers and magazines, where content cannot be separated from its medium.
Taxing the paper on which they are printed is not equivalent to taxing packaging. It effectively means taxing locally produced content that holds fundamental value for our society and is created by professionals for Québec readers. This distinction was recognized when the government exempted books from recycling collection fees.
That decision to support cultural diversity should logically extend to print media, which serve as a bulwark against cultural homogenization and misinformation. In a global landscape shaped by fake news, social media pressures and dominant digital platforms, preserving local print media must remain a priority.
Our media outlets form a broad ecosystem providing many direct and indirect jobs. Every dollar invested in local media stays within Québec’s economy. Demand for print also remains strong: millions of Quebecers continue to rely on print formats, which help bridge the digital divide, particularly in rural communities, among seniors and in less connected households.
Act now
Over the years, the Québec government has implemented important measures to support print media. However, this misguided reform contradicts those efforts to strengthen the
sector.
The government must act quickly by exempting print media from recycling fees. Must we wait for more media outlets to close before action is taken?
A government that claims to defend Québec’s interests must support an industry of such vital importance, not undermine it.
Lily Ryan 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.
