Thank you.
Madam Chair, you talked about the importance of looking ahead, and, sure, I think we can all agree to that. That's no problem. We can look ahead and anticipate what's to come. However, what I believe is perhaps unreasonable in this scenario is that we're being asked to put forward amendments without yet having heard all of the testimony that is to be brought forward to this committee. We don't know what those remaining witnesses might bring forward with regard to recommendations for amendments. There seems to be a lack of any sort of logic to enforce that or to make sure that we bring forward amendments before hearing from those witnesses.
I would highlight for the committee that the agreement we came to was not for a maximum of 20 hours. Nor was it a hard stop at 20 hours. It was for a minimum of 20 hours of witness time. I can appreciate that the last hour within that minimum framework will be granted— that is the right thing to do—so thank you, but also, let's acknowledge the fact that there are many more witnesses who have asked to come before this committee. Perhaps it is worth acknowledging that and seeing if it might be possible to give additional time.
For example, we have a bill in front of us that is going to have a direct impact on places or companies like Apple or Amazon or Roku, none of these has been invited as a witness, as far as I can tell, thus far. I'm wondering if there would be opportunity to bring forward witnesses such as the ones I have listed just now.
In addition to that, I think we as a committee have a responsibility to make sure that multiple voices are represented here on behalf of Canadians. That is our job. To rush this through without giving a chance for a variety of witnesses—including the ones I have listed—to be heard from seems irresponsible. Again, I would just encourage the committee to perhaps consider going above and beyond that minimum threshold of 20 hours.
The other thing I will state is this: It stands out to me that the CRTC chair, Mr. Scott, testified in this committee a couple of weeks ago, at which point he stated that the CRTC does have the ability to regulate user-generated content within the framework of this piece of legislation, Bill C-11, as it stands. That is interesting to me, and to many Canadians, because there is a charter statement that says otherwise and deems this bill charter-compliant.
The CRTC chair Mr. Scott and the charter statement cannot both be true. It would seem, then, that a new charter statement is required at this committee before we can move forward and consider the bill in clause-by-clause, because if in fact this bill, as it stands, is not found to be charter-compliant, then that would need to be revisited. Again, this committee would not be doing its diligence or functioning in a diligent manner if it did not take that into account. I would encourage this committee as well to call for a new charter statement before we continue proceeding to clause-by-clause consideration.
Madam Chair, in summary, I'm asking for two things. I'm asking that we consider the fact that when we discussed hours granted, we said a minimum of 20 hours, so there is opportunity to hear from additional witnesses who would like their voices to be added here at this committee.
The second consideration that I am putting before you as chair and the rest of the members of this committee is that a new charter statement is required in order to ensure that this bill is in fact compliant with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Again, I will highlight that there is an incongruence between the testimony of Mr. Scott and what the charter statement says.