Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, members of the committee.
I'll forgo the introductions. You've identified my colleagues. We are pleased to appear before the committee, specifically this time to speak about the need for Bill C-11.
The modernization of Canada's Broadcasting Act is long overdue. Created in the early 1990s, the act was a product of its time. It fostered the creation of a series of tools that were appropriate for the public-policy goals of the day, namely to protect and encourage the development of Canada's broadcasting system. In the walled garden this system created, Canadian films, music and television programs were given the opportunity to flourish.
I don't have to tell you how that reality has changed with the Internet. Those goals supported by the Broadcasting Act and the tools it created became less relevant as Internet technology embedded itself deeper into the homes, and onto the phones of Canadians.
As regulators of the broadcasting system, we paid close attention to these changes. We judged these changes were complementary—rather than detrimental—to Canada's broadcasting system, while we continued to keep a closer eye on the trends and innovations those technologies created.
Each passing year brought new changes to the system, giving Canadians a welcome ability to consume new content in new ways. Digital platforms have created and continue to create opportunities for Canadian artists and content producers but also challenges, particularly for traditional media.
In 2018, at the request of government, we conducted an in-depth study of the environment and issued our report called “Harnessing Change”. In it, we lay bare a simple truth: Canadians will rely increasingly on the Internet to discover and consume music, entertainment, news and other information in the coming years.
Our report therefore recommended that future policy approaches should focus on the production and promotion of high-quality content made by Canadians that can be discovered by audiences in Canada and abroad, should ensure that all players benefiting from the Canadian broadcasting system participate in an appropriate and equitable manner and should be sufficiently nimble to enable the regulator to adapt rapidly to changes in technology and consumer demand. We made similar recommendations to the broadcasting and telecommunications legislative review panel.
All of this brings us to Bill C-11, which the CRTC views as a much-needed piece of legislation. More effective tools, such as those proposed in C-11, are needed to ensure that Canadian stories and music can be enjoyed by audiences in Canada and across the globe. In our view, the bill proposes three very important things.
First, C‑11 builds on the existing Broadcasting Act to clarify the CRTC's jurisdiction regarding online broadcasters. It would give the CRTC new regulatory powers to deal with online broadcasting services, including non‑Canadian ones.
Second, it would give us a more flexible approach to regulation. The current Broadcasting Act does not specify how traditional players in the Canadian broadcasting system must contribute to the act's policy objectives. Bill C‑11 would allow us to make that determination as it regards online broadcasters and put in place the regulatory frameworks to support those goals.
Finally, it would modernize the CRTC's enforcement powers. Although the Telecommunications Act allows us to impose administrative monetary penalties to address non‑compliance, no such provisions exist in the Broadcasting Act.
Madam Chair, the need for modernization of the Broadcasting Act has only become more urgent.
I will stop there and invite questions from the members.
Thank you very much.