Canadian Heritage Committee on Sept. 23rd, 2024

[Thomas Owen Ripley]

I thank the member for her question, Mr. Chair.

Obviously, it could increase the burden on the CRTC. The bill states that this duty to consult must be done “before furthering the objects and exercising the powers referred to in subsection (1) in respect of the aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system…”. The powers referred to in subsection (1) are set out in the Broadcasting Act. The CRTC makes a lot of important decisions every day, such as administrative and policy decisions. As we understand it, the purpose of this bill is to ensure that the commission conducts consultations whenever it intends to exercise a power set out in the Broadcasting Act. Obviously, this will increase the burden on the CRTC.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Could this bill result in potentially significant additional expenditures to carry out the proposed consultations, including an increase in staff?

[Thomas Owen Ripley]

I thank the member for her question.

The answer is yes. Every time the CRTC begins a public consultation process, it involves additional costs; it also takes time, which adds to the time it takes to make a decision.

There is indeed a duty to consult before exercising a power. Then, if the CRTC decides to go ahead and launch a public consultation process, there will have to be another consultation, in which the provinces and territories will be able to participate.

Yes, it will cost more money and it will take time.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Ripley, I'm going to go back to the independence issue that you discussed earlier. I wanted to come back to it because you mentioned that this bill could create the impression of undue influence, which could possibly undermine the independence of the CRTC.

Could you tell us more about the importance of that independence and tell us why it is necessary so that there is no perception of influence, which could be potentially harmful?

[Thomas Owen Ripley]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for her question.

As I mentioned, the CRTC's role is to implement the policy framework set out in the Broadcasting Act, which includes several objectives related to supporting francophone communities and francophone programming. The role of the CRTC is therefore to decide the best way to support and advance these policy objectives.

Certainly, the provinces, including Quebec, will take an interest and may have an opinion. However, it must be acknowledged that other stakeholders will have differing positions on the subject. So it's not a matter of ignoring the position of the provincial governments. It is also the CRTC's role to take everything into account and, in the end, to make a decision while ensuring that the CRTC's opinion better reflects the policy framework set out in the act.

In addition, if the department is required to consult provincial governments, the CRTC may change its position before even consulting other stakeholders who may have opinions contrary to those of the provincial governments.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I have one last question about how these consultations are to be carried out. In your opinion, Mr. Ripley, how long would it take to do proper consultations?

[Thomas Owen Ripley]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for her question.

My answer to that question about how long it might take is that it may depend on the situation. The problem with the way the proposal is worded is that this duty to consult seems quite extensive. Therefore, the CRTC would still be required to hold consultations before exercising its power.

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Is there any more discussion on Mr. Champoux's subamendment? Seeing none, I will call for the vote.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 4)

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Is there any more discussion on the original amendment? I see none.

Mr. Noormohamed, you're under the gun. You just beat me. Go ahead.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Can you quickly read back for us the amendment as it is?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

I can. We're on CPC-1, as you know. There are no changes, so it's what you have in your package that was sent out by the legislative—

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Okay. I'm good.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Oh. You're good.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

I'm sorry. I didn't have it in front of me. I just wanted to make sure I had it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

That's fine.

We're going to have a vote on amendment CPC-1.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Is this the one from Mrs. Thomas? Was she the original mover?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

She was the original mover, but as you know, Mrs. Thomas is no longer here, so it's put up as CPC-1.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Just for technical reasons, does a name of the mover get attached to this, or does it stay as is? Is it just the CPC...?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

It's Mr. Jivani.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Okay.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

That's a good question though. Thank you.

Again, I'm going to call for the vote on amendment CPC-1.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 3)

We move now to NDP-1.

Ms. Ashton, if you would like to move it, please do.

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

Yes, I would like to move it.

I think I explained in my earlier remarks why this amendment is so important. It has been championed by the FCFA and leaders of the minority language community.

In the interest of time in passing this bill, I will leave my remarks to that and, obviously, hope we can all support this critical amendment for minority-language francophone communities across Canada.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

We'll go to Mr. Champoux and then to Mr. Coteau.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The amendment that my colleague Ms. Ashton is proposing does indeed reflect the expectations of francophone communities outside Quebec, those communities that we consulted in the spring, and even over the summer. It also reflects Quebec's request to be consulted, pursuant to the clause contained in Bill C‑354. I am hoping that we won't spend an inordinate amount of time discussing this issue. We already have the answers to all the questions we put to department officials.

I therefore urge us to vote quickly on Ms. Ashton's amendment.