Evidence of meeting #125 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was election.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Regulatory Affairs, Elections Canada
I'm just nodding in agreement. That's correct.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
This would be a useful amendment to extend the equality to social media, basically. Is that what you're proposing, Stephanie?
4:35 p.m.
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
Yes. I think it's very forward thinking. Could we perhaps get some commentary from the government as to what they make of this?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I don't have much in the way of commentary. I don't remember hearing much in the way of evidence on this. Are there differential rates? Have we talked with the social media companies about this? Is it enforceable?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
This again is from Professor Michael Pal's testimony before our committee back in June. I believe he's from the University of Ottawa. He made a recommendation similar to this and said that there should be an equivalent provision within the Elections Act dealing with social media versus the rules we have in place for radio, TV and print advertising.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Are there different rates, though? Can I get a rate that's different from Nathan's?
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Well, I think that for a lot of the issues, for anyone who's ever posted a Facebook ad, there are different rates depending on how you boost and what your geographical area is. If you have someone boosting in certain areas, it's going to be different from boosting in other areas.
It's an equivalent rate, so that you're not going to be charged more based on any arbitrary factors.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
4:40 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Correct me if I'm wrong, but traditionally it was applied to newspapers and radio to not give preference to a party over another.
4:40 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
The question is, is there a similar application that needs to happen with social media? A social media company of any description could simply just like someone better and give a party preferential pricing. Am I right in that assumption? I'm thinking that none of us—
4:40 p.m.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Regulatory Affairs, Elections Canada
I'm sorry. We don't have anything to offer on that in response to that question.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I think this might have been a better question when Facebook and Twitter were here, because it's the algorithm. I'm always happy to bring them back. We had fun.
4:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Yes. We only threatened to summons them once—or twice, maybe.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I understand what it's getting to, but just in terms of its being an effective law.... For Facebook, Twitter and social media, it's an algorithm that's determining the price we pay. It's not the role in terms of the others.... You call up your ads manager, and your ads manager is your buddy, and he or she is going to give you a better rate, and that—