moved for leave to introduce Bill C-381, an act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, co-sponsored by my colleague from Leeds—Grenville, amends the CRTC Commission Act to provide for representation of consumers on the board of commissioners.
At the beginning of this month, Canadians again saw what little voice they had when the CRTC made a ruling permitting the basic television cable service to be left in its own jurisdiction. The problem with cable increases has been raised in the public domain.
The bill would ensure that half the CRTC commissioners be appointed from consumer organizations with expertise in broadcasting and telecommunications. The commission would then be a more forceful watchdog in the industry.
The bill also provides that commissioners detail how they vote on CRTC decisions and that the commission be vested with the responsibility to assure both the cost effectiveness and the rights of Canadian consumers with respect to these decisions.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)