Canadian Heritage committee  Minister, with all due respect, you know I have a short amount of time. Please answer my question. How do you define “programs”?

Canadian Heritage committee  Bill C-11 regulates the uploading and transmission of “programs”. That's the word used in the legislation. If that's what it's doing, I'm wondering what is meant by “programs”.

Canadian Heritage committee  What I hear you saying, then, is that “programs” include user-generated content. That's what you just stated.

Canadian Heritage committee  Then, Minister, what are “programs”?

Canadian Heritage committee  A grid code is a system to identify a release of digital sound recordings, as well as other digital data for electronic distribution. Every piece of digital content that has composition music actually has a grid code attached to it. That means that TikTok videos—as you've stated—podcasts, YouTube videos and so on will all have a grid code attached to them, because, as you know, individuals who are posting those things usually attach music.

Canadian Heritage committee  Right, so, Minister, anyone who produces a TikTok video will have a grid code attached to their content. What you're telling me today—

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm glad you're mentioning that there are other criteria, because based on my reading of the legislation—and not just mine but readings by experts such as Dr. Michael Geist—those criteria are very subjective and actually leave it up to the CRTC to determine to what extent those criteria are being considered.

Canadian Heritage committee  I've heard your sandbox speech.

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm wondering—

Canadian Heritage committee  Minister, my question is simple. Are you willing to clarify the legislation in order to make sure that the CRTC is given strict boundaries within which it has to function when it considers criteria as to whether or not content will be regulated, or have you purposely designed the legislation to be muddy in nature?

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Chair. Minister, thank you for giving us your time today. When you opened up with your starting comments, you mentioned how important Canadian arts and culture are. Of course, I agree with that. When it comes to regulating arts and culture on the Internet, Canadians have quite a few concerns regarding the latest piece of legislation, Bill C-11.

Canadian Heritage committee  Chair, may I?

Canadian Heritage committee  I'm sorry. If you could confer with the clerk, I don't think that's quite true. We're not voting on the motion as amended. We are only voting on the amendment.

Canadian Heritage committee  My understanding is that—

Canadian Heritage committee  Madam Chair, I'm sorry. I just don't think you've clarified this. Perhaps you could ask the clerk to specify what we're voting on just so everyone knows precisely what it is.