Bill C-354

An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Sponsor

Mario Beaulieu Bloc

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

Status

Report stage (House), as of Oct. 2, 2024

Subscribe to a feed (what's a feed?) of speeches and votes in the House related to Bill C-354.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act to provide that the Commission must, in furtherance of its objects and in the exercise of its powers, consult with the Government of Quebec or the governments of the other provinces, as the case may be, before regulating aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system that relate to the cultural distinctiveness of Quebec or that concern French-speaking markets.

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.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-354s:

C-354 (2017) An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood)

C-354 (2013) Defence of Canada Medal Act (1946-1989)

C-354 (2011) Defence of Canada Medal Act (1946-1989)

C-354 (2010) An Act to amend the Federal Courts Act (international promotion and protection of human rights)

C-354 (2009) An Act to amend the Federal Courts Act (international promotion and protection of human rights)

C-354 (2007) An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Remembrance Day)

Votes

Feb. 28, 2024 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ActRoutine Proceedings

September 19th, 2023 / 10:05 a.m.

Bloc

Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities).

Mr. Speaker, we in the Bloc Québécois like to stress that a nation must not leave its own culture in the hands of its neighbour. That is exactly why I am tabling this bill today.

This bill provides that the CRTC must consult the Government of Quebec before regulating any aspect that relates to the cultural distinctiveness of Quebec. It responds to a formal request made by the Government of Quebec during the debates around Bill C-11 for a mandatory and official mechanism for consulting the Government of Quebec.

This bill is also in line with the House's recognition of Quebec as a nation. It is a constructive response to the disturbing decision made by the federal government last year to end the long-standing practice of alternating between francophone and anglophone chairs of the CRTC.

The bill also provides that provincial governments must be consulted before regulations are made that concern French-speaking markets. That will no doubt be well received by every francophile in Canada and every advocate for cultural diversity in a broader sense.

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