By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – Experts designated by each party visited the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Monday to further discussing Bill C-10, the legislation which aims to modernize the Broadcasting Act.
The work of the committee has been at a standstill since April 30, and today’s discussion, which was often centred around freedom of expression and whether C-10 will impact what Canadians post on social media, gave little hope that the clause-by-clause consideration process, which should be the bulk of the committee’s work at this stage would resume anytime soon.
The experts are well known: Michael Geist, Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa; Pierre Trudel, professor, Public Law Research Centre, Université de Montréal and a member of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel; Janet Yale, Chair of the same Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel; Andrew Cash, president, and CEO of the Canadian Independent Music Association.
It was at times a lively discussion but no new ground was covered as the experts and the MPs’ positions are well known. Its unclear if the Conservatives are yet satisfied possible infringements on the freedom of speech of Canadians are exempted by the bill and have been convinced to resume the committee’s normal workings.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Minister of Justice, David Lametti, who failed to appear on Friday despite being invited, has now decided to appear on Tuesday, at 2:30 after being re-invited. Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault will also appear with him.
And then on Wednesday, the clause-by-clause consideration is scheduled to resume.
Sunday evening, the leaders of the New-Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois, Jagmeet Singh and Yves—François Blanchet along with Canadian Heritage Minister, Steven Guilbeault appeared on the Québec television talk-show Tout le Monde en Parle to discuss Bill C-10.
The Conservatives were also invited to send a representative, but they declined, according to the host. This issue is gathering serious public momentum in Québec, where culture is an issue dear to its heart, of course, and a defeat of Bill C-10 could harm the Conservatives there, so they have to gauge their next move carefully.
Meanwhile, the FAANGs monitor the situation and probably would not object if the bill went away.
(Ed note: CBC’s Tout le Monde en Parle is the most popular and often most talked-about show in Quebec, but not is accessible to Anglophones. We’d certainly watch if CBC streamed it on Gem, for example, with live translation.)
