Evidence of meeting #33 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was justice.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Again, the concept of discoverability is ensuring that, as part of these platforms, Canadian content becomes more visible for Canadians, or actually any audience, to watch. There won't be any requirement, obviously, for users, just like is the case right now with YouTube—
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
That's a yes, then. They will have the ability to regulate.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I'm just asking why I'm not able to get a yes or a no answer.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
That is not a yes.
When you go on YouTube, three-quarters of what is viewed on—
Liberal
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
I'm really thinking we should have some decorum here. The minister is trying to speak and should be allowed to do so.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
I appreciate the comment.
It's not officially a point of order, Ms. Ien, but I do thank you for your intervention.
Okay, folks, let's go back to regularly scheduled programming. Let's see how this unfolds so that we can provide the right information.
Thank you, all.
Ms. Harder, you have the floor, and I think you have about a minute and thirty seconds left.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
Mr. Philip Palmer and Mr. Len St-Aubin were both at the table when the Broadcasting Act was originally put together. They're now available and able to offer their expertise on this subject matter. Did you consult them when creating Bill C-10?
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I would be happy to provide the committee with the list of all Canadian experts and organizations that have been consulted for the preparation of the Bill C-10.
I'll also remind the members and the committee that, prior to Bill C-10 being tabled, there was an almost two-year consultation leading up to the Yale report that was done, and close to 2,000 papers were presented.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
It's interesting, because I had the opportunity to meet with them. I'm a backbencher, and they made time for me.
I found it interesting that you didn't take the time to reach out to them, because I think they would have been more than happy to give you some time.
What they have to say about the bill is this. “The arrogance of taking this huge vehicle of expression, commerce and learning—in other words the Internet—and stuffing it into an act that was designed to regulate a technology that is now more than century old is an offence to reason.”
Minister, they have huge issues with Bill C-10, and they've asked you to scrap it. I would request the same.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I don't think there was a question in that, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Okay, and we've run out of time.
Thank you, folks, for the spirited discussion.
We now go on to Ms. Ien for five minutes, please.
Liberal
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, thank you so very much.
Thank you to the minister and deputy minister for joining us here today.
Deputy Minister Drouin, when we last heard from you, my colleague Mr. Housefather was asking you a question. I just want to give you the time to finish it, so please go ahead.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
Thank you. I guess the question you are alluding to is the discoverability question.
As I said, because the purpose of the bill hasn't changed, and because the four authorities in this one in particular are not a regulatory power that the CRTC can ask indirectly to broadcasting service providers to change the content of an individual, of an unaffiliated user, this is why we conclude that this power in particular does not affect the guarantee freedom of expression.
Liberal
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Deputy Minister Drouin, thank you so much for that.
Minister Guilbeault, I'll move on to you right now.
At committee we heard from several witnesses from the BIPOC community—Black, indigenous, people of colour—who expressed deep concerns about their voices being considered in this bill.
How will reforms lead to increasing those voices and make sure that there is more diversity in this sector? Can you paint a picture for us, please?
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I think achieving this goal is about three things, and not necessarily in this order. Certainly, it's who we nominate to take part in many of our institutions—the Canada Council for the Arts, our national museums and various other organizations. As minister, I've had the pleasure and privilege of nominating Jesse Wente, an indigenous person, an accomplished artist and producer, as chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. It's the first time ever, in the history of Canada, that we have an indigenous person at the head of the council. Gaëtane Verna, who's originally from Haiti, is also now on the board of the council. Isha Khan is the first Muslim woman to head a national Canadian museum.
We have to ensure that those organizations are a good reflection of what Canada is in its diversity. I think it's about ensuring that our programs are adapted to the needs of those communities. Again, in the audiovisual sector, we now have a fully funded indigenous screen office as per budget 2021. We are working on a Black screen office as well. I have been meeting with many of those witnesses who appeared in front of the committee to work with them to see how we can do this.
Third, it's about putting our money where our mouth is, ensuring that groups, that racialized Canadians and indigenous Canadians, have access to the resources they need to tell their stories, to express their arts, and to be visible, here and abroad.
Liberal
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Is it your opinion, Minister, that these reforms will help to amplify those voices even more?
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Yes. I think we still have a long way to go. There's still a lot of work to do, but Bill C-10 will enable us, as I said in my remarks initially, and will mean that around $830 million in additional money is added for the cultural sector and certainly for BIPOC communities and under-represented groups in our arts and culture sector.
Liberal
Marci Ien Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Minister Guilbeault, thank you.
Madam Drouin, the Minister of Justice has provided this committee with an amendment update. It outlines quite clearly that there are safeguards to protect social media users. I wanted to ask you to explain how that happened despite the removal of proposed section 4.1.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
First of all, I think Minister Guilbeault said it very clearly. When this committee decided to strike one of the sections of the bill, it was not made in a vacuum. The intent was to re-table amendments. This amendment is quite clear. It restricts the CRTC power on broadcasting service providers, on the type of regulation they can adopt to, as I said, very limited for a head of authority powers.
I think it's important not to read the bill just as the first amendment that this committee adopted but in light of the other amendments that Minister Guilbeault wanted to bring—
Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice
Maybe I would add one thing, in terms of new content, about what I said before. It's also important to say that the CRTC is also bound by the charter and has to respect the charter. The CRTC has a discretionary power and will have to exercise its authorities respecting the charter. There are also some mechanisms to make sure that the CRTC will respect the charter.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Thank you, Ms. Drouin. I have to respect the clock.
Ms. Ien, I owe you an apology. Yes, decorum is a point of order. I misspoke. What I should have said was that the remedy I have to offer you is to ask everyone to be nice with each other, unfortunately. Let's all look at that as a lesson.