Again, as has been said, while it's understandable that there may be frustration, and there may be some desirability to do some of these things, I've taken the time to take some advice. I'll be repeating, perhaps, something of what Mr. Fast has already said, but I'd like to put on the record five or six points.
The Broadcasting Act approved by Parliament sets out the broadcasting policy of Canada. There's no authority in the act to amend the broadcasting policy. This would require a legislative amendment that would come before this committee. The Governor in Council has the power to issue a policy direction to the CRTC subject to the process established in section 8 of the Broadcasting Act.
By virtue of section 8, any proposed policy direction must be laid before each House of Parliament and referred to such committee as the House deems appropriate. This ensures that Parliament has the opportunity to consider the proposals. The Broadcasting Act requires that any proposed policy direction be published in the Canada Gazette and that comments be invited from the public. There are no powers of direction in the Broadcasting Act that would allow for the Governor in Council to direct the CRTC on how to interpret the broadcasting policy for Canada established in the act.
Now, all of those points being the case, voting in favour of this motion is something that in our democratic process everyone is free to do, but, with absolutely no disrespect intended whatsoever, to do so is rather meaningless, because what we're voting on as a committee and what we're asking for is not envisioned in the Broadcasting Act. So unless the committee is going to recommend a wholesale change to the Broadcasting Act, the motion really cannot have any effect.