Contribution of foreign streamers updated to $1B
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez took an aggressive stance in responding to Conservative members’ questions today at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, on whether platform users would be regulated under Bill C-11.
He started by saying that “platforms are in, but users are out.” This triggered arguments from Conservative Rachael Thomas who, amongst others, said platforms are fed by users and therefore by regulating the platforms, you are regulating the users.
The minister answered saying the platforms can only be captured if they stream commercial content. The confusion in some’s minds is that, for example, YouTube is an important subscription streamer of music in Canada.
But at some point, Rodriguez accused Thomas of acting in bad faith since she had indicated on Twitter Bill C-11 should die a thousand deaths. So, he argued that she had no interest in amending the bill and at some point, he refused to answer a question, saying he had already answered it.
Tense discussion, but mostly polite – in stark contrast with the levels of discussion with C-10.
Previously, the minister confirmed that the policy direction would be released after the bill is adopted and not share it with the committee like the previous minister had done with C-10.
The minister also mentioned he was open to discussion but is also committed to passing this bill.
Another figure was floated, as the minister indicated the contribution by streamers, estimated at $832 million last year, was now updated to $1 billion, due to the arrival to new players and increased revenue.
These sums, of course, would exclude most of the present production, since they would probably not qualify, as indicated by Owen Ripley, from the Department of Canadian Heritage. The minister also indicated that the Canadian broadcaster’s production levels today are approximately $3 billion.
But again, the minister confirmed what he had said in some public statements that the CRTC must update and modernize Canadian content definitions, probably through this policy direction.
He mentioned that he had had discussions about it with the CRTC.
After an hour, as planned, the minister left the room, leaving his departmental team behind, to answer the rest of the committee’s questions.
After a few such questions, Chris Biddle, a Liberal member, introduced a motion to set the start of the clause-by-clause phase on June 8, just as he had tried, in the last meeting, to pass a motion to set the deadline for tabling amendments, with the same success…
Of course, Biddle, as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage has the thankless duty to steer the committee in accordance with government’s operational needs.
Thomas then proposed an amendment to the motion to delay the start of the clause-by-clause phase until the committee completes a study of the alleged involvement of Hockey Canada in the sex assaults committed in 2018. This would follow-up on the motion unanimously adopted in the House of Commons, on June 2. The Heritage Committee, she argued, would be the natural place to conduct such a study, since sports is within its purview.
The NDP and the Bloc resisted the proposal to delay of study of C-11 amendments but an emotional testimony from Kevin Waugh, a former Saskatchewan broadcaster, who express his regrets for not having aired the scandal that had plagued the Swift Current hockey team in the ‘80s and 90’s. He said he knew there was abuse at the time, everybody did, and it was swept under the rug. So, he strongly resisted that such a study be postponed. “I am sorry guys; this has to come now!”
He then moved for adjournment, which left the motion unresolved.
Point of interest – the meeting was chaired by the vice-chair of the committee, Conservative John Nater.
