Canadian Heritage Committee on Dec. 9th, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, Chris.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

This is a consequential amendment related to G-3 and G-6. This is needed to remove the regulatory power for the Governor in Council to regulate CBC/Radio-Canada, as we discussed at length earlier in our debate on this topic.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there any discussion?

Go ahead, Ms. Gladu.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I don't believe CBC should be part of Bill C-18. They shouldn't be getting the lion's share of the money and keeping it from the local small media organizations. I won't be supporting this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Is there any further discussion?

(Amendment agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That means that amendment NDP-29 cannot be moved.

Guys, we're moving so nicely and quickly that I'm having to turn my pages faster than I think I can.

Shall clause 84 as amended carry?

(Clause 84 as amended agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 85 agreed to on division)

(On clause 86)

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We have amendment NDP-30.

Peter, go ahead.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[Philippe Méla]

Madam Chair, I'm sorry to interrupt. My apologies, but I've missed a page.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I know. It's moving so quickly that sometimes the pages stick together. You're trying to move them and you can't.

Mr. Julian, go ahead.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will say I think everybody's working very effectively together, which allows us to improve the bill since our attention is focused on the amendments. I note that we have an hour to go and only a handful of amendments, so I'm actually hopeful that we'll be completing the clause-by-clause review of this bill by the time the committee rises. That's wonderful.

Amendment NDP-30 comes from a suggestion that was made by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. They also represent journalists in some sectors across the country. CUPE is Canada's largest public sector union, though it does also represent people in the private sector.

There is a small typo I just want to correct.

This would amend the bill:

(a) by adding after line 33 on page 33 the following:

“(c.1) information relating to the effect of exemption orders made under subsection 11(1) on the Canadian digital news marketplace;

(c.2) recommendations for the attention of the Commission or the Governor in Council arising from the analysis included in the report; and”

(b) by adding after line 36 on page 33 the following:

“(3) For the purposes of the report, the independent auditor may consult the Commission, the Commissioner of Competition appointed under subsection 7(1) of the Competition Act and any person or entity governed by this Act.”

I move amendment NDP-30.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Is there any discussion on NDP-30?

[The Clerk]

Mr. Bittle has his hand up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Go ahead, Mr. Bittle.

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

Thank you very much.

I'd like to ask Mr. Ripley what, if any, issues he sees under this amendment.

[Thomas Owen Ripley]

Thank you, Mr. Bittle.

Madam Chair, we have an observation with respect to paragraph 86(2)(c.1). From our perspective, this is information that the auditor could already ask for or that could be included in the report. MP Julian's amendment, however, would make it obligatory for the auditor to include this information, but the government's position is that agreements signed in the context of exemption are a key element of understanding the impact on the framework.

With respect to paragraph 86(2)(c), the only thing the committee may wish to consider is, again, the relationship with any confidential information that may be provided in that context. Again, there may be implications with respect to how that information should be treated and protected.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

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

Very quickly, Madam Chair, I just want to thank Mr. Ripley and state that I'll be opposed to this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Is there any further discussion on amendment NDP-30?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I would ask for a vote on this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Fine.

(Amendment negatived: nays 10; yeas 1)

Mr. Bittle, go ahead on amendment G-8.

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

Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

This is similar to prior amendments. It simply sets out the reporting requirements of CBC/Radio-Canada should they reach an agreement with tech platforms.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is there any discussion?

Go ahead, Ms. Gladu.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I don't believe CBC should be included in the framework of Bill C-18. I think it's not going to help small and medium outlets, so of course I won't be supporting it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Is there any further discussion?

(Amendment agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Martin, go ahead on BQ-7.