We have a few concerns about this.
I would say that my first concern is that it is somewhat outside my expertise, as a member of the committee, to be dealing with this because it's not been our [Inaudible—Editor]. However, it also seems to push the scope of the bill and the intent of the author. We think it could be ruled out of order because it would open an unrelated provision of the Broadcasting Act, which deals with the power of the Governor in Council to issue directions under general application on broad policy matters, and this is not within the original scope of the bill.
We have some other problems with clause 23 even as it's written, in that it requires the CRTC to do a number of things that are outside its expertise and its mandate, including an evaluation process with respect to the integrity of someone on the list. We don't issue licences to broadcasters that are foreign; we put them on the list of broadcasters that can be added to a licensed broadcaster. We think that this is not the best place to do it. It's becoming an omnibus bill. We think that the amendment itself is not within the scope of the bill as it's been presented. Even if it were, we would be concerned about it giving authorities that it may not be within the power of the CRTC to do.
Given that, I would like to turn to officials from Canadian Heritage to make sure I'm not wrong.