Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 7th, 2011

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I heard my colleague's concern about free speech, and again, I think we have to clarify what this regulation is about. This is about the licence holders. It's not about journalists. It's not about people who go on and have opinions.

One of the great things in Canada is that we have a pretty rough and tumble media. They aren't prima donnas. We read all matter of partisan commentary. We see journalists speaking out on all manner of things. None of that comes under the issue of the regulations we're dealing with.

The licence holder regulation is about the fact that there is a stated social commitment under the Broadcasting Act. Subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act is very clear that a licence holder has to maintain a high standard of journalistic integrity. So you can allow your journalists to have many different points of view, and many times maybe those journalists might provide information that's inaccurate--maybe they made a mistake--but the licence holder has to have an overall obligation to some standard.

The issue of allowing false and misleading information as long as it doesn't endanger human life is a pretty low bar. I don't think you could get lower than that. How would you even be able to prove that they endangered human life? This is the horrific discussion that's happening in the U.S., that putting a target on a politician's forehead leads someone to shoot them. We could never quantify that answer, but someone did get shot, and there is a huge backlash in the United States.

This isn't about suppressing anybody's opinion. This is about ensuring that those who have the licences to broadcast on television and radio have to meet a certain obligation. For example, say in the middle of an election, one television network or radio station decided they were going to supply false information about a politician they didn't like, which could fundamentally change the outcome of the election, change the political dynamic. It would be okay because they didn't get him killed; they just misrepresented who he was. We see that in the U.S. It has happened. It's something we have to be concerned about.

I would like the CRTC to come and explain this to us. I'd like to hear from some civil society groups that might be able to give us a perspective on what the wording should be if there are changes to the regulations so they come in line with law, but certainly what's being offered is much too low a standard.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Are there any other interventions?

Seeing none, I'll call the question.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I will try to schedule a meeting sometime in the next month.

Mr. Angus, thank you very much. We'll try to get a meeting. I'll invite the CRTC to come and talk to its considerations in this matter. I'd also ask that anybody who has additional witnesses from broadcasting and civil society to suggest to please pass them to the clerk.

We now will go to the last business of this meeting, which is to consider the motion from Madam Lavallée.

Madam Lavallée, would you care to move your motion?

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

If you want I could read the motion. However, it essentially congratulates Denis Villeneuve and his team on their Oscar nomination for the film Incendies.

I would just add that I made a serious omission. I forgot to also congratulate Montreal make-up artist Adrien Morot on his Oscar nomination for best make up for the film Barney's Version. If you will allow me to add this paragraph, I can submit it all in one single motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there any discussion on this motion?

Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Conservative members are delighted to support this motion wholeheartedly. The minister was pleased to present this to all parliamentarians. I think the response is fantastic, and I think it speaks to the feelings of all parliamentarians. We're always proud when Canadians do well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there any further discussion?

Did the clerk get the additional wording from Madam Lavallée?

Seeing no further—

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Don't sneak anything bad in there, Carole. I said we wholeheartedly support it.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

I would like to add the following paragraph:

The same congratulations are extended to Montreal make-up artist Adrien Morot on his Oscar nomination for best make-up for Barney's Version.

I will give it to you now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favour of the motion as moved by Madam Lavallée?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Thank you for your cooperation.

This meeting is adjourned.