Canadian Heritage Committee on Oct. 21st, 2022

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, my next question has to do with subparagraph 11(1)(a)(ii). In there, it actually says that DNIs basically must police the news business to make sure that they use the money that they're given in order to advance or support the production of local, regional and national news content.

I'm just curious as to how DNIs will be held accountable for policing this. Maybe I will begin with asking why DNIs are responsible to police this. Why do they need to ensure that this is how the money is used? How will they make sure that is the case? How will they be held accountable?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You have to understand that the basis of the bill is to make sure that those big platforms, the tech giants, have deals with a large spectrum of media in Canada—big, small, in different regions, in your own province and mine, in different languages, indigenous and all of that. They have—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, with all due respect, my question was around policing. Why are DNIs expected to police how money is used by the news businesses?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

If I may, once they get those agreements, then they have to go to the CRTC and demonstrate that they meet the terms of agreement. Then they have to make sure that they have a fair relationship with all those different news outlets, with news media.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, with all due respect again, you're just not answering my question. I'm just curious as to why DNIs are responsible for policing the use of money by news businesses?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I don't understand what you mean by that—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Thank you, Minister. I know you don't understand. That's the point—you don't understand the legislation and the implications it will have on these businesses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mrs. Thomas—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Your question is not—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Ms. Thomas, please be careful. You are crossing the line in terms of being disrespectful to a witness. Thank you.

Go ahead.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, my next question is this. Would you commit to coming to committee and answering questions, very important questions? Many have already been raised today by members on all sides here, with regard to Mr. Marouf being given $133,000 by your department.

Minister, you were awfully silent when this came up this summer. We haven't heard anything from you yet. We'd love the opportunity to ask you some questions. Would you be willing to come to committee and entertain questions?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I'm surprised you didn't hear me on this, because I condemned it. I said that racism in any form—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Excuse me. I'm sorry, Minister.

There is, I think, a problem in the room, because people have their mikes turned up very high and they're not muting, so we are getting feedback every time the minister tries to speak.

Can I ask you to mute your mikes in the room and for only Ms. Thomas, who has the floor, to speak, and then the minister to speak so we don't get that feedback?

Thank you.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

As I said, Ms. Thomas, I condemned this, as I condemn racism in any form—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, I wasn't asking you whether or not you condemn it. I was simply asking if you'd be willing to come to committee.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You invited the minister responsible for the file, Minister Hussen, who was there. You had the chance to ask the questions to the public servants in charge of the file and you filibustered the whole hour without letting them answer those questions—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Minister, I realize that it's in your best interest to get away without answering my questions, but I am curious as to whether you would be willing to come.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

On a point of order—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

You invited the minister responsible for the file. He was there. The public servants were there, and instead of asking the questions, you filibustered.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I'm guessing that's a “no”—no to accountability, no to transparency, no to coming to committee.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

If that was important to you, why did you filibuster?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

[Inaudible—Editor] Minister Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Pardon? What?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I beg your pardon—

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I didn't hear the last part.