Canadian Heritage Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome everyone to meeting number 94 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the Standing Orders. Members are attending in person in the room or remotely using the Zoom application. We have two currently, Ms. Dhillon and Mr. Coteau.

It's good to see you both here this morning.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants of this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen are not permitted. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.

As you know, although this room is equipped with a powerful audio system, feedback events can occur, and you all know to keep your phones away from the microphones as we go.

We'll open the meeting with committee business.

Ms. Thomas, I saw your hand up first.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

A point of order.

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

I would like, through you, to have the clerk confirm that we had CRTC scheduled to come today. There are very important questions that need to be asked of the CRTC, including around regulations and telecom companies. Canadians are being gouged. There's also the massive influx of disinformation from the Fox propaganda network and others. Those are all important questions.

Can you confirm that because of the Conservative filibuster we've had to cancel the CRTC appearance yet again? You will recall that a couple of years ago, we had to delay the CRTC for an hour—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

I was surprised too, Mr. Julian. I expected to see Ms. Eatrides today, but I saw “committee business” and no mention of the CRTC chair.

We have a new clerk here today. Geneviève is not feeling well today and couldn't join us in person, but Jacques Maziade is with us today. As for the request for Ms. Eatrides, she was scheduled to appear today, so....

You know, Mr. Julian, I don't know what happened. I do agree with you. When I did see the notice come out on committee business, I had thought that Ms. Eatrides would be here for at least one hour today. That has not happened for some reason, but I will give that to the chair, and we'll move forward.

That was a very good point of order, because I too was expecting to see the head of the CRTC here today, so thank you for that. Does that satisfy you?

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

I may come back to this issue. Are we currently in camera?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

We're in public.

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

Okay. The committee notice says “in camera”.

If we're in public, I want to say that this is the second time because of Conservative filibusters that we've had to delay or cancel the CRTC appearance, and I find it very regrettable. The Conservative filibusters blocking—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

I'm going to say to you, Mr. Julian, that this was out of our hands. It was on the schedule to have the CRTC chair with us today, and I have no reason why Ms. Eatrides did not show.

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

You will recall the last time the CRTC came, the CRTC was waiting outside while a Conservative filibuster was debating having the CRTC before the committee. It was bizarre. It was some kind of bizarre, dysfunctional....

I think it's important to note that this is the second time the CRTC has been cancelled or delayed because of a Conservative filibuster.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

They didn't cancel because of one side filibustering. Today's business should have been Ms. Eatrides, and I have no reason why Ms. Eatrides wasn't on today's agenda. I asked the same question of our group yesterday.

To be honest with you, I have the same issue that you have, but it's not because of any filibusters going on. Today's committee business was scheduled for the head of the CRTC to be with us today, so I appreciate your point of order.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I have a point of order, as well, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Mr. Champoux, do you want to speak on...?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Yes, absolutely.

I note that Mr. Julian is drawing a parallel between the filibustering done by our Conservative colleagues at our last meeting with the CRTC, but the situation was different at the time, Mr. Chair, because the witnesses—

Let me finish, please.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Point of order.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'm on my point of order. I will finish it if I can have my colleagues' attention.

Mr. Chair, I would like to know if we can ask the clerk to explain to us what happened in the order of invitation for today's meeting.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Chair, this is debate.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Okay, so—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

This is ridiculous. This is debate.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

No, it's a point of order. I want to know about—

Mr. Chair, if Ms. Thomas can show a modicum of respect—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Here is the ruling I'm going to make right now. Hold on.

Mr. Champoux, finish your comments. Then I will go to Mrs. Thomas. I have Mr. Coteau and I have Ms. Gladu. We have a lineup here.

Go ahead.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Let me finish before deciding that it is not a point of order!

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to know if we can ask the clerk to explain to us what happened to cause the order of today's meeting to be changed. I would like a clarification from the clerk if he has the information. Since our regular clerk is participating virtually, she may have some clarifications for us on the change we experienced with Ms. Eatrides' failure to appear.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

According to our new clerk, it has been rescheduled at the direction of the chair. The chair made the decision to move Ms. Eatrides to another date. I don't know the date. We haven't decided that. The chair has decided that.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

If I continue on, I have to go to Mr. Coteau.