Radio / Television News

Bill C-10 to be studied by committee before second reading



By Denis Carmel

OTTAWA – Bill C-10, also known as the Broadcasting Modernization Act, even though it was not voted upon in second reading, will get a head start with the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Cartt.ca has learned.

Although, the committee will not be discussing the bill itself, members will discuss the subject matter of the bill when they reconvene at the end of January, and prior to second reading.

“In its meeting on December 7, 2020, the committee agreed to conduct a study of the subject matter of C-10. Therefore, the committee could begin receiving testimony on this subject matter, prior to the Bill having been referred to the committee. That being said, no meetings have been scheduled as of yet,” confirmed the Committee clerk in an email to Cartt.ca.”

This somewhat rare procedure has been used in the past to allow Parliamentary committees to begin to study legislation where time is of the essence and where it is expected to eventually land in the committee – and where many witnesses are projected to be heard.

Some see this as awkward since C-10, introduced in the House on November 3 and discussed on four occasions, could have been voted upon already and sent to the Committee but it was stalled by a bill that had to be adopted before a certain date by court order (Medical Assistance in Dying).

The House suspended its work on December 11 and will reconvene on January 25.