Evidence of meeting #38 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was online.
A video is available from Parliament.
11:30 a.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
We don't have a regulator. We don't have any action. Again, what do I tell the survivors who are being told, sorry, not much is going to happen but maybe a regulator, and maybe there will be a new CRTC for porn? How long are they going to have to wait before they actually see something?
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
This was in my mandate letter when I was nominated as the Minister of Canadian Heritage. We started right away, despite the most important pandemic we've seen in the last 100 years, doing public consultations, doing the work. Some people may like—
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I have not personally, but the department and people on my team have, so yes, we have, but it's not something that can be solved overnight. It's a complex issue. As we're seeing all around the world, countries are struggling with this.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Mr. Angus.
We're going to turn to Mr. Viersen for the next round of questions.
Mr. Viersen.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To the minister, have you, your staff or your office ever had a meeting with Chuck Rifici or any of his associates or employees?
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I would be happy to provide the committee with....
I can't see the image of the member, but maybe I should proceed anyway, Mr. Chair.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I'd be happy to provide the committee with the list of organizations and people we've met—we being the government—on this issue over the last year and some months.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
All right.
I'd like to hand the rest of my time over to Mr. Gourde.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Minister, would it have been possible to include a provision in Bill C‑10 to regulate platforms like Pornhub so as to finally protect our children, who are going through unspeakable things right now?
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Thank you for the question.
I find your question very cynical, as your party consistently opposes the passage of Bill C‑10, which is not about content moderation, but rather about web giants contributing to our cultural sector's artists and musicians.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Forgive me, Minister, but you are changing the subject.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Minister, Monsieur Gourde, it's difficult when you're talking over each other.
Monsieur Gourde, I'll turn the floor back to you.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
I'm sorry. Are you turning it back to Mr. Gourde or to me, Mr. Chair?
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Minister.
The time is Monsieur Gourde's.
Monsieur Gourde, we'll turn it back to you.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lévis—Lotbinière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We have had some very disturbing testimony about underage children being exploited by platforms, and we need to take action. You told us you would put in place a new provision, new legislation, which probably won't come into effect for a year, a year and a half. We need to move much, much faster than that. We live in a society where our children are not protected, currently, from web giants.
How are you going to speed up the process? Why couldn't C‑10 close the loophole for now?
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Steven Guilbeault Liberal Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Once again, your party opposes the passage of Bill C‑10, which has nothing to do with content moderation, while the hate speech and online harm bill specifically addresses the issue of content moderation.
Yet you say you oppose content moderation. You and many of your colleagues say that the government wants to take away your freedom of expression. The exploitation of persons bill will ensure...