Creating proposed online harms regulators estimated to cost $200 million: PBO

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer estimates that staffing up the new regulators in the Liberals’ Online Harms Act will cost around $200 million over five years.

The federal government wants to establish a Digital Safety Commission to regulate social-media companies and force them to limit harmful content online.

The online harms bill also proposes creating a Digital Safety Ombudsperson for Canadians to take their concerns to, as well as a Digital Safety Office.

In a new report, the PBO says the Heritage Department estimates those new entities will have 300 employees when they’re fully up and running.