Thank you, Madam Chair.
This is CPC-1.1. This amendment reads that Bill C-11, in clause 3, be amended by adding after line 22 on page 4 the following:
(2.1) Paragraph 3(1)(d) of the Act is amended by adding the following after subparagraph (i):
(i.1) reflect and be responsive to the preferences and interests of its audiences,
(i.2) to the extent possible, rely on market forces to ensure that Canadians obtain the programming of their choice,
The effect of this amendment...and this gets to the broadcasting policy for Canada. The part of the Broadcasting Act that's being amended is the actual broadcasting policy for Canada and some of the broad principles, for lack of a better word, that guide broadcasting policy in Canada. It's twofold.
The importance of this, I think, is actually the Canadian public: the consumers, the individuals who seek entertainment, who seek content being responsive to what they want, the interests they have, the shows, the creations they're interested in. It includes that as part of the broadcasting policy.
Of course, the element of market forces ensures that we are not arbitrarily putting our fingers on the scales and picking winners and losers among Canadian creators. The principle of this is including it in the broadcasting policy for Canada and really looking at the rights of consumers, the rights of individuals to be able to seek out and find and be responsive to the content they're searching for online and within Canada.
Thank you, Madam Chair.