Even with 1.8 million followers on TikTok, Wallace Wong says he feels like he鈥檚 been dealt a huge blow after the federal government directed the app to shut down its Canadian operations this week.

鈥淚t feels like we鈥檝e lost some support and I鈥檓 (left) to fend for myself,鈥� says the Toronto-based chef who鈥檚 become a viral sensation for his chopping skills.

鈥淔or such a big platform like TikTok to no longer have an office here, it feels like we鈥檝e lost a vital line of communication 鈥� not just as creators, but also for the brand looking at how they can help creators here. It鈥檚 a lose-lose.鈥�

Wong is one of several Canadian TikTok creators who worry that the closure of the platform鈥檚 Canadian arm will erode their support system and limit their earning potential.

The federal government ordered the dissolution of TikTok鈥檚 business in Canada on Wednesday, citing national security risks, but it stopped short of an outright ban on the app.

A TikTok spokesperson said the decision will result in the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs, adding that the platform intends to challenge the order in court.

Lifestyle and food content creatorMali Raja says the app鈥檚 Canadian division helped local users with account optimization, resolving technical issues and landing sponsorships. She adds it frequently organized pop-up events and digital campaigns to spotlight local talent, and played a key role in connecting creators with brands.

鈥淣ow, we鈥檙e taking a step back in terms of creators losing that outreach,鈥� she says.

Advertisers may also become reluctant to invest in content on the platform, says Michelle Nguyen, president and chief strategist of Toronto-based social media agency Super Duper. As a result, Canadian creators may see a decline in ad dollars, she says.

鈥淚 see brands getting worried about the amount of money they鈥檙e putting towards their TikTok presence. I have concerns that they will be pulling back budget because they鈥檙e being reminded of how precarious TikTok can be (in Canada),鈥� she says.

Wong shares similar worries that the uncertainty surrounding TikTok could lead to a decrease in brand partnerships and sponsorships.

鈥淚t creates fear. For TikTok to not have an office here, it could signal to brands that 鈥楳aybe we shouldn鈥檛 put all our eggs in TikTok, maybe we should take away some of our budgeting and put it in other platforms, because we don鈥檛 know how long it鈥檚 going to be here.鈥欌��

TikTok comedian Neema Naz says the winding down of the platform鈥檚 local offices feels especially 鈥渇rustrating鈥� because Canadian creators are already at a disadvantage. Canada is excluded from TikTok鈥檚 Creator Rewards Program, which pays creators for their videos.

The Toronto native says that while some creators had hoped TikTok鈥檚 Canadian presence would eventually lead to the implementation of a rewards program in the country, 鈥淚 guess that鈥檚 not an option anymore.鈥�

Naz says the closure is symptomatic of a larger problem 鈥� a lack of support for Canadian artists.

鈥淲hen an accountant or doctor or someone with a regular job is bored or sad or angry in their time off, they watch comedy. They watch content so they don鈥檛 lose their minds. I feel like in Canada a lot of people don鈥檛 value us as creators,鈥� he says.

鈥淭his is why we鈥檙e heading to the U.S. on work visas with the hopes of staying there permanently, because they actually put more effort and funding into the arts.鈥�

New Brunswick creator Tom Hearn says elimination of TikTok鈥檚 Canadian branch feels like another blow to 鈥渁 dying arts scene in Canada.鈥�

鈥淲e have no star system in the country that we live in. Unless your last name is Levy, you鈥檙e probably not going to get a TV show or a special,鈥� says the TikTok comedian.

鈥淪o TikTok has actually opened insane doors for me that would never have happened before. It鈥檚 extremely important for comedians and artists.鈥�

That being said, Hearn says he鈥檇 be willing to get off of TikTok if it truly posed a national security threat. But he argues the government has been very vague about what the threat actually is.

鈥淚f the security of our nation is at risk because of this specific app, then plainly state what the issue is and do something to fix it. This doesn鈥檛 feel like a solution,鈥� he says.

鈥淚f TikTok is a security breach, then let鈥檚 ban it. If it鈥檚 not, then let鈥檚 let them have their employees.鈥�

Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press