As I mentioned, it's already open for provinces and territories, including Quebec, to participate in CRTC proceedings. The way that Bill C-354 is structured makes an amendment to the CRTC Act, which, as I mentioned, is the act that creates the CRTC and sets out its powers. It's not in the Broadcasting Act.
What Bill C-354 proposes to do is require the CRTC—and there's a reading of the bill that would require the CRTC—before it exercises any power under the Broadcasting Act or does anything under the Broadcasting Act, to consult with the Government of Quebec or other provinces as it relates to the French-speaking communities in those provinces. It elevates that kind of duty of consultation with the Province of Quebec or other provinces above the current structure.
The concern is that you are elevating these governments and putting them in a privileged position, and the concern would be that it could give rise to a perception of influence on the CRTC, again, because, before they exercise any of their other powers, they have to go and do this consultation with Quebec or other provinces. It's not just a question of redundancy from the department's perspective. It introduces a risk, because you are elevating these provinces above other stakeholders who may want to participate and put their perspectives on the record.