Finance Committee on Feb. 9th, 2026

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'm not going to speak about deliberations that are in front of cabinet.

If you want my opinion, there are issues in and around freedom of expression in any act that would be presented in Parliament to keep Canadians, and particularly children, safe from online harms. I don't think it's necessary to have a private recourse regime under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

We already have a bill before the House of Commons by Michelle Rempel Garner. I believe it's Bill C-216. I might be wrong about the number. It creates a duty of care for tech companies to deal with very legitimate online harms against children and sexual victims.

Why not support that?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'm not unsupportive of it, frankly. I spoke to your colleague Ms. Thomas recently about that. I have yet, in fairness, to speak to Ms. Rempel about it.

I think the motive and purpose behind it are laudable. I think in the articulation of it, it should be properly introduced by the government, and supported by one. I'm willing to work with her on the details.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Will the forthcoming online harms act be a bill that you put forward, or will it be a justice bill?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

It's TBD.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you, Mr. Lawton.

We will now continue with Mr. MacDonald for five minutes.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister and other witnesses.

Minister Miller, Prince Edward Island's cultural identity is deeply rooted in its Acadian heritage, and it's reflected in many of the family names around my living area, like Arsenault, Gallant, Paquette and Chaisson. It represents generations of language, arts and culture throughout Prince Edward Island and, indeed, Atlantic Canada.

This heritage is celebrated every year through National Acadian Day. In this budget, we committed funds to continue funding that celebration. Can you elaborate on what investments the federal government has made in budget 2025 so that Acadian and francophone families and communities across Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada can continue to see these tangible benefits?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

That's a very important question, Kent.

Perhaps I didn't have much time to say this while answering Mr. Leitão's question, but there are events across Canada that really merit and deserve support from the Canadian government. Sometimes we're there with the provinces, and sometimes we are not. In this budget round, we have $4 million going to the Fête nationale de l'Acadie. It's so important. I have Acadian blood in my own veins, so I'm proud to support that as well. It's so important for the Acadian nation to make sure we are supporting it with the appropriate funds to celebrate the day.

If anyone hasn't seen the Tintamarre, I encourage them to go and do it. It's not every Acadian town that does that, but it's neat to go and see. It's a painful part of our history, but it's a shared history and one we have to continue to support. Those millions of dollars will go to some really cool events in the middle of the summer.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, Minister.

Also in P.E.I., we have the Confederation Centre of the Arts, which was opened in 1964. It's a historic performing arts facility that gives many visitors an opportunity to see island culture. I think over 200,000 people a year visit there; 150,000 attended performances, exhibits and educational programs just last year.

Minister, we're seeing a transformation taking place at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. There's the construction of a new rehearsal hall. With cultural buildings like these inspiring Canadians, what's in budget 2025 to continue the operation of such facilities and promote culture and events in Atlantic Canada?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Any time we're promoting the birthplace of Confederation, we're doing a good thing. You were modest enough not to mention the amounts, but I'm not that modest. I think that putting over $5 million into renovations will draw not only Canadians—with more and more Canadians travelling within Canada, we'll certainly see more Canadians—but international travel as well, for Charlottetown to shine and to show on the Canadian and the world stage our beautiful shared history.

It's something that I don't think anyone should vote against, because it is so critical to highlighting who we are as a country and our history in the birthplace of Confederation.

[Kent MacDonald, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Thank you, Minister.

Further along in the budget, we talk about the $150 million for CBC/Radio-Canada, on top of the $42 million that was already topped up. In our region, smaller communities depend a lot on that public funding for CBC because it may be the only shop in town that's delivering news—real news, in my opinion—and playing local music, local talent.

Can you speak further on the importance of providing that funding for those smaller communities that depend on it?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I have these discussions, even in the context of modernizing CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate. What we often hear from regions is that, yes, the heat map of where CBC/Radio-Canada penetrates is not perfect, but in some communities that is perhaps the only resource to get news. Let's not get into other unreliable news that is penetrating. It is important.

To the colleagues who were talking about the fourth pillar of our democracy, it is so critical. It's more than just news. It's about making sure that people are able to hear themselves in the accents and languages that they hear when they talk to their families or go to the store. It's also about getting fair news to remote areas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. MacDonald. We're going to have to end it there.

Mr. Garon, you have two and a half minutes.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, Bill C‑15 includes the repeal of paragraph 19(1)(g.1) of the Canada Post Corporation Act. You've probably been informed that municipal libraries in rural Quebec are concerned. If Bill C‑15 is passed as is, Canada Post will no longer have to have its rate schedules approved by cabinet. The current act includes an exception for libraries, which means they get preferential rates when shipping books between regions.

So the Réseau BIBLIO du Québec is concerned. I could also talk about associations for the visually impaired, for example, who tell us they're afraid they won't be able to get Braille books anymore. I understand that there's a desire to give Canada Post more freedom with regard to its rate schedule, but this exception existed in the act.

I asked the Minister of Finance about this. He was not aware of it. He told us that the exception would possibly be maintained. I checked, and it is not being maintained. Does that concern you? Would you be open to working together on amendments so that municipal libraries in the regions can continue to enjoy the preferential rate?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

You've caught me a little off guard, but I'm not unsympathetic to the issue you're describing.

As you know, we're a minority government and so have to work with the opposition parties, but I'd be happy to work with you on this.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

We'll follow up on that.

Regarding the government's role in television, my colleague Mr. MacDonald all but came out and said that the only real news comes from Radio-Canada.

In first-year economics, students are taught what a public good is. A public good is something that is produced and that everyone can access. It can almost be stolen, and it is expensive to produce, so if the market is left to its own devices, no public goods would be produced. In a world where social media can disseminate what television stations do for free, television, including private television, is a public good. For any serious economist, such as Mr. Leitão and myself, the government certainly has a role to play in supporting them. However, you seem to think that this isn't the case.

What is the government's role in supporting private television?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

We could spend all day or more talking about that.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Let's hope not.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

First, the government plays a role since public broadcasters are regulated by the CRTC. We know that in the current climate, these organizations need support, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Karina Gould]

Your time has expired, but you can pick up where you left off in the following round, Mr. Garon.

Mr. Lefebvre, you have five minutes.

[Éric Lefebvre, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

I'll be splitting my time with my colleagues.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Thank you.

Minister, what do you believe, fundamentally, the role of CBC is?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I think it is, as I mentioned earlier—and even if you were to consider one of the great philosophers of the conservative movement in Burke—a fourth pillar of democracy that keeps me and you accountable to the public by making sure that there is reliable information that people can have and consume as they get their information about whatever they want but, most importantly, can judge and elect people like me and you to this place.

[Andrew Lawton, Conservative, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON]

Does a television show about a tomato that speaks to children about colonialism fit that?