Bill C-621 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (loudness of television advertisements)

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

Sponsor

Nina Grewal  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Second reading (House), as of Feb. 15, 2011
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment requires the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to make regulations under the Broadcasting Act to limit the loudness of advertisements broadcast on television.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Broadcasting ActRoutine Proceedings

February 10th, 2011 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

Conservative

Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-621, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act (loudness of television advertisements).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of the constituents of Fleetwood—Port Kells to introduce a bill to amend the Broadcasting Act.

Canadians are sick and tired of having to reach for the remote control every time a commercial comes on TV at a higher volume than the normal programs they are watching. It is a common complaint to be watching a show at a comfortable volume and then the program breaks for a commercial and one is suddenly jolted out of one's seat by the loudness. While it may seem a small irritant, it is a daily stress that could and should be relieved from the shoulders of Canadians.

This bill will help to stabilize the volume of TV commercials down to the same average level of other programs by requiring the CRTC to make regulations under the Broadcasting Act to limit the loudness of advertisements broadcast on television. The regulations would follow the best practices of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, the standards agency for North American broadcasters, and would establish a target dialogue level for all programming.

My bill, when passed, will provide everyone a noise pollution-free and comfortable environment for enjoying a TV program at home.

I would like to thank the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo for seconding my bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)