Finance Committee on Feb. 9th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Good afternoon, colleagues. I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 24 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, December 10, 2025, and the motion adopted on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the committee shall resume consideration of Bill C-15, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

I would like to welcome our Minister of Canadian Identity, Marc Miller, who is joined by Francis Bilodeau, his deputy minister; Joëlle Montminy, senior assistant deputy minister; Blair McMurren, assistant deputy minister; and Véronique Côté, chief financial officer.

With that, Minister, you have five minutes for your opening remarks. Please proceed. Thank you.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture]

Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members. It's nice to see all of you.

I want to begin by acknowledging the land we're on, the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.

Thank you for inviting me here today.

As you all know, in this time marked by uncertainty, a changing economy and unprecedented challenges, as a society, we know that, more than ever, we need to protect our identity and stand together to confront these challenges. In his mandate letter, the Prime Minister set out our government's priorities for meeting this moment: defending our sovereignty, strengthening our country on the world stage and creating a Canada that our children and grandchildren deserve.

Budget 2025 confirms the government's commitment “to protecting what makes Canada unique and brings Canadians together—through continued investments in our official languages, our public institutions, and our natural and cultural heritage.”

I am privileged to speak to you today about the 2025 budget, which provides $772 million in support for the arts, culture, media and journalism, as well as other measures to preserve our national identity.

There are historic investments outlined in budget 2025. However, we are proposing only one corrective measure directly through the BIA, which is the reason for my appearance today.

In 2023, Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, and Bill C-13, on the modernization of the Official Languages Act, were considered around the same time, and both sought to amend the same section of the Broadcasting Act. While in the Senate, Bill C-11 had a privacy provision added, which was later unintentionally overwritten when Bill C-13 was passed. The measure we're proposing in the BIA simply corrects this error and restores Parliament's original intent.

I don't assume that will take up 50 minutes of discussion, but I wanted to highlight it.

Returning to the 2025 budget, we are providing funding to help make a greater impact in the areas of sport, cultural industries, arts, heritage and, of course, community celebrations. Investments in Canadian creators and culture significantly strengthen the economy by creating jobs and stimulating innovation, while supporting Canada's long-term growth, productivity and competitiveness globally.

Budget 2025 provides more than half a billion dollars for the growth of Canada's audiovisual sector, which is noteworthy. This includes more funding for the Canada Media Fund to better support Canadian creators and producers, and additional support for key national institutions such as Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board of Canada.

In addition, we're investing an additional $6 million in the Canada Council for the Arts, $150 million for CBC/Radio-Canada and over $46 million to support the performing arts.

The special measures for journalism component of the Canada periodical fund will also be extended to support community news outlets and magazine publishers.

Funding for the sport support program will build on previous investments to advance diversity and gender equality in the Canadian sport system.

Other items include funding for arts and heritage activities and increased support to help with the hosting of the men's FIFA World Cup in 2026, as well as efforts to support the awareness of indigenous cultures.

We have also announced an investment of more than $1.4 billion in minority-language education and second-language learning. We've signed agreements and are still working closely with each of the provincial and territorial governments. Our two official languages aren't just a cultural treasure for each and every one of us. They also open doors to international trade and facilitate collaboration between our provinces and territories.

Budget 2025 builds on our national pride by investing in the traditions that bring communities together. It provides $21 million for local festivals and events, as well as $20 million to support Canada Day celebrations across the country.

We're also doubling the annual funding for Acadian National Day celebrations. Finally, following the success of the Canada Strong pass last summer and during the holiday season, we're proud to have renewed this initiative.

The Canada Strong pass will return in the summer of 2026 to help families save as they discover and rediscover the incredible cultural and natural treasures that make our country so great.

Our culture is vibrant, unique and diverse. It's the tie that binds us. It puts our shared values and national identity on display and serves as our calling card to the world. It reflects our strength, our confidence and our inclusiveness. It's what makes us and Canada truly exceptional.

Thank you for your attention.

I look forward to answering your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you so much, Minister Miller.

We will begin with Ms. Thomas for six minutes.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister.

Bill C-11, of course, as mentioned in your opening remarks, was sold as not regulating user content. However, the CRTC has recently confirmed that it can, in fact, require algorithms to manipulate what Canadians see online, which ultimately would boil down to censorship, if that were the case. It's exactly what Conservatives have warned about. It's exactly what Canadians have been very much concerned about.

I'm just curious, what do you make of this, now that the CRTC is willing to admit that it can, in fact, compel algorithms?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

This is, first and foremost, Ms. Thomas, an issue when it comes to the ongoing work that the CRTC is doing in making sure that we are properly regulating platforms. Specifically, what the CRTC is currently seized with is making sure that people are providing Canadian content.

This isn't about free speech. It isn't about telling people what to do. It's about making sure that we have a thriving and modern broadcasting system in a country geographically situated like Canada, and making sure that we survive in a country that gets a lot from American culture.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Algorithms can, in fact, result in speech censorship. What do you make of that? If algorithms are compelled, it means that people will be able to see certain content and not other content. That means certain content can be put into some abyss somewhere where folks cannot access it or they can post it, but then it'll automatically be hidden because of an algorithm.

That's censorship. It's keeping some people from being able to say what they would like to say online. It's keeping others from being able to see what they would like to see or listen to online.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I think you and I—and indeed this committee—have seen what algorithms can do and, if they are manipulated, what effect that manipulation can have on the availability of content. I don't think there is any suggestion that the CRTC is going to suppress algorithms or suppress speech by making sure people are behaving responsibly.

Are you suggesting otherwise?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

By the CRTC's own admission, it is saying that it has the ability to compel certain algorithms to be—

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Well, the CRTC is a regulatory agency. It has to live up to the standards of its own constituent charters.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

In order to achieve the outcomes of Bill C-11, it would be incumbent upon the CRTC to compel certain algorithms to be enacted.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I think you're reading a lot more into it than what the CRTC is actually doing. It's a responsible regulator.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Are you able to assure Canadians here today that this will not, in fact, be the case, that algorithms will not be compelled and that outcomes will not be instituted?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Are you suggesting that any platform can use any algorithm to push its own narrative and content into the Canadian public—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, I'm—

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

—and that should be unregulated?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

—just asking for assurance for Canadians. Can you, in fact, assure them that algorithms will not be mandated in such a way that it would control certain things from appearing online and others would be mandated to appear online?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

What I can assure Canadians is that the CRTC can, and is expected to, do its job, which is to make sure we have a properly regulated broadcast environment.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

They are saying they have the ability to compel algorithms.

Minister, what you are effectively saying, then, is that you stand behind that.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I think we agree to disagree on that.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

With all due respect, that is exactly what you just admitted to.

Minister, Bill C-11 came into effect in June 2024. It's been almost two years.

What tangible accomplishment has been achieved through Bill C-11 for Canadians? It was touted as something that would further our identity and culture. I'm just curious; what tangible things has it done to do that?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

By its passage, it has signalled to the industry and to Canadians that we are expecting people to behave in a way, in a free and open society, as they should and to build up and make sure that we are building a society that allows, in this environment, the media to thrive justly, as you highlighted, by supporting freedom of expression, but in an environment that is fair and accessible to all.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Would you say that this outcome has been achieved?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I don't think we're entirely there, no.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

What part of that outcome has been achieved?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

We passed a law that was very important, to make sure that people are doing their jobs and in some cases paying their fair share.