CRTC imposes fee on Google to cover cost of enforcing Online News Act [Video]

Canada’s telecommunications regulator said on Wednesday it will impose a fee on Google to recover the cost of enforcing a law that requires large internet platforms to pay for news content on their websites.

The imposition of the levy on the search engine giant comes at a time of increased tension between Canada and the United States over trade, border security, and a digital services tax on U.S. technology firms.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) said the vast majority of its operations are funded by fees charged to the companies it regulates, and the cost recovery rule for the Online News Act will come into effect from April 1. The charge may vary from year to year and does not have an upper limit.

The CRTC finalized the rule after a period of public consultations, during which Google intervened to argue against its implementation saying it was “not …