The federal government has reached a $100 million dollar deal with Google that will thwart the tech giant from blocking Canadian news content from its search platform.

Google and Meta both threatened to block Canadian news content in their disagreement over Bill C-18. While Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, made good with its threat by blocking all Canadian news organizations from its social media platforms, Google continued to allow Canadian news content while the details of an agreement with Ottawa were worked out.

The new Online News Act regulations were due to come into effect in just a few weeks’ time.

As a result, Google will pay $100 million dollars annually to publishers, while allowing access to Canadian news.