Evidence of meeting #100 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was crtc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Just to clarify, you're looking for information that would tell somebody where a podcast—
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Not even that.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We're asking podcast services, a few of whom you can imagine have revenues of over $10 million a year—we're not even sure if there are podcast services who have over $10 million a year in Canada—to register with us to just let us know “we are a service that provides that”. We're not asking them to even enumerate what their podcasts are or who their podcasters are.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
Let's say Peter, Mr. Julian, and I decide we're going to start a podcast, and we're going to have the 10 people who probably care about what we think. What would we have to do in terms of the CRTC?
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Absolutely nothing.
November 23rd, 2023 / 9:05 a.m.
Liberal
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
We would not have to tell you where we're running our podcast out of.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
We would not have to give you the address from where we are broadcasting or the nature of the content.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
No.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
We could sit anywhere, make our own podcast and say and do what we like, and you're not going to regulate us.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That is absolutely correct.
Liberal
Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
For avoidance of doubt, the average person, or the average creator of a podcast, should not have to worry about any kind of oversight from the CRTC.
Executive Director, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
That is correct.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
We started five minutes late, so I'm going to give extra time here.
We'll have Mr. Champoux for two and a half minutes, please.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I am a little concerned about the podcast plan my colleagues Noormohamed and Julian are hatching. Maybe we will talk about that another time, when it is more—
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Maybe, in that case.
Ms. Eatrides, last summer, I was very concerned about the fact that the position of regional commissioner for Quebec at the CRTC had been vacant for so long. Recently, on November 14, Stéphanie Paquette was appointed to the position of regional commissioner for Quebec, and that was excellent news. That is perfect.
The fact remains that this position had been vacant for several months, at a time when, in my view, it was absolutely essential. The study of Bill C‑11 was beginning and regulations were being implemented that have a major impact on Quebec culture and the broadcasting sector. The fact that this position was vacant was of much concern to the sector and also to me.
I would like to know the explanation for it taking so long to find the right person and appoint her, when there were several good candidates in the running.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
As you know, the CRTC follows a very formal process. That said, Ms. Paquette, who has just taken up the position, is certainly going to be consulted on all decisions we will be making about Bills C‑11 and C‑18 and other consultations we will be holding.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
I understand, but the process still took longer than usual. In fact, it was extremely long, in a situation where there was some urgency. I also know there were good candidates in the running. I wanted to point out that it really did take too long.
This situation raises concerns, precisely about the agility of the CRTC, which you spoke of earlier. I thought that in the current circumstances it would have been important to have that resource person there with you. People, observers, and I am not talking about experts or anything of that sort, contend that the CRTC is an organization that regulates an old system, at a time when our world is undergoing rapid change.
In 30 seconds, could you reply to the criticism that the CRTC is not equipped to deal with the regulations that are needed in the digital world?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
We have a team of experts. We have members across Canada who have expertise in their field, and this helps us.
I also want to note that our decisions are made based on the submissions we receive from stakeholders. We have all the information from the big businesses, from consumers, from everybody. So we have the information we need for making decisions.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
So regulating digital services is not a subject that concerns you. From what I hear, that is right up your alley.
