Evidence of meeting #7 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was decision.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I suppose you can characterize it that way. Generally, when we use the phrase, we're talking about the availability of service. Obviously, there are additional challenges that go to income levels, but that's not geographic. Obviously, that's in any and all—
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
And a digital divide based on income.... It's actually, based on some the research, a more significant digital divide.
When you have an essential service like Internet access and you're mandated to address competition and affordability, and you've been in the job for over four years.... Affordability is about addressing that digital divide on income for constituents like mine. What do I tell them that we have accomplished in your four-plus years to reduce rates, make life more affordable and the Internet more accessible, which is essential service for Canadians in my community?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I should just say in the first instance that it is not about me as an individual. It's about the commission. Decisions are rendered by all members with the assistance of our staff, as I mentioned earlier.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
You are the chair of the organization, though.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I am, and I am one member of a nine-member commission at the moment.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
If I were the chair of an organization, I might not cast it in that way. I might take responsibility for the organization that I chair.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
As do I. I'm simply pointing out that decisions of the commission are not mine to make.
What we have accomplished is that we have continued to further the rollout of broadband services geographically. What we—
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
On income and affordability, Mr. Scott, for an essential service like the Internet....
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
If you're asking me if we have introduced rate regulation to establish rates, as I have already explained, no, we did not.
There are a number of—
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
That's not my question. I'm just trying to say that the mandate is competition and affordability for an essential service like the Internet. You've been in the job for over four years and what I see is a wholesale rate decision that undercuts competition, as Mr. Fast suggested, and then I see an MVNO decision that very modestly pushes the needle in addressing competition.
After four-plus years, don't you think we should expect more?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I don't have an answer to that. I already answered both questions with respect to MVNO. I have attempted to answer all of your questions with respect to the reconsiderations of the costing decisions—
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I appreciate that. I express the frustration.... It's not directed at you. It's directed at the institution.
I'll just close with this because I've been asked by many people what purpose the CRTC serves today. When it comes to the essential service that is the Internet and making it more affordable and accessible for Canadians, I'm not sure I have a good answer.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you, Mr. Erskine‑Smith.
I'll now give the floor to the last person.
Mr. Lemire, you have two and a half minutes.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Scott, what is the role of the CRTC in managing falsehoods and misinformation on the Internet? Are you equipped to combat misinformation or hate content online?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I'm not sure I understood your question. Could you please repeat it?
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Do your powers apply to the content put online by Spotify, for example? If so, what is the scope of your powers? Do your powers apply only to licencees?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
At the moment, with respect to the Broadcasting Act, the CRTC really only has available to it two approaches to regulation. We can license broadcasters, broadcast distribution or programming undertakings. Otherwise, we use what's called the “digital media exemption order”. A company like Spotify can't be licensed because it is not Canadian-owned and controlled, which is a policy direction of the Government of Canada to the CRTC under the Broadcasting Act.
We have jurisdiction over other players under an exemption order, but that is the driving reason for the need for Broadcasting Act reform. It is to give us clear lines of responsibility over new online players that are involved in broadcasting in Canada and to give us the necessary tools to develop a new regulatory framework.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I'd like to ask one last question, Mr. Scott.
What will be your legacy as CRTC chairperson?
I'm curious to hear your views on this.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
What is my—
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
What is your legacy.
As chairperson, what change have you made to Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications?
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
I honestly don't view my job that way. When I started, I was asked what my vision was. I suppose I'll be asked what my “legacy” was, if that's the term.
I'm sorry, but I don't know the word in French.
That's not how I look at it. We deal with matters as they come before us, whether it's application by parties or whether it's initiated by government or self-initiated.
It sounds sort of trite, but it isn't to me. We do the best job we can in the public interest. We develop a record. We ask the important questions. We get submissions from all Canadians and then we render decisions that we believe are truly in the public interest.
That's what a good regulator does and I hope that's what we have done under my leadership.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Thank you, Mr. Lemire.
February 8th, 2022 / 5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you, Mr. Lemire.
That concludes our rounds of questions.
Mr. Scott, on behalf of all the members of the committee, I'd like to thank you and your team for making yourselves available and taking the time to meet with us.
Dear colleagues, thank you again for your co‑operation.
The meeting is adjourned.