USING GOOGLE’S OFFICIAL CANADA blog, Jeanette Patell, head of public policy for YouTube Canada, posted a statement today about Bill C-10, the bill which would modernize the Broadcasting Act, in which she says the company supports the federal government’s goal of modernizing broadcasting and promoting Canadian artists, but adds concern about the potential negative impact of such legislation on YouTube’s Canadian creators.
In the blog post, titled “A Note on Bill C-10: Standing with Canadian creators and their fans”, Patell writes: “Making sure that people can find and enjoy all of this quality Canadian content is a big priority for YouTube and we support the goal of Bill C-10 to make sure Canadian creators and artists have a shot to be heard. However, we are deeply concerned about the possible unintended consequences that could negatively and unnecessarily impact the two communities we care about most: our creators and the millions of Canadians who use YouTube every day.”
There’s little doubt Patell’s post is in response to the ongoing discussions about the impact of C-10 on social media companies and their users, especially when they act like broadcasters, which is what Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has said is the focus of changes to the Broadcasting Act that would include digital platforms in the legislation. (YouTube and YouTube channels became a particular focus for Guilbeault during interviews on CBC News and CTV’s Question Period last month, although he has since clarified any new legislation would apply to the platforms and not individual content creators.)
“If Bill-C10 rules were to go into effect as currently written, people would be seeing suggestions not based on their personal preferences or even what is most relevant, but what the government decides is ‘Canadian’.” – Jeanette Patell, YouTube Canada
Speaking about the openness of YouTube, Patell says the platform enables “a rich diversity of Canadian creators to express themselves and share their artistry with the world” and provides “the opportunity to find a niche among an audience of billions.”
Referring to what she calls “the ‘discoverability’ debate”, she writes: “If Bill-C10 rules were to go into effect as currently written, people would be seeing suggestions not based on their personal preferences or even what is most relevant, but what the government decides is ‘Canadian’. The rules around what is considered Canadian content are complex and it is very difficult to qualify. This stands to impact all creators but we are especially concerned about the impact on new and emerging creators as they will be up against players who have been following these rules for decades.”
“We know that Canadians punch above their weight on YouTube and their content is wildly successful everywhere. So, what happens when other countries follow suit, favouring their own local voices? This could mean our creators and stories get less reach around the world, impacting the businesses and livelihoods of thousands of entrepreneurial Canadians,” Patell (right) continues.
“Modernizing broadcasting for the digital age is a worthwhile goal. It should not come at the expense of Canadian creators or the millions of Canadians that use platforms like ours. YouTube is the place for Canadian creativity without compromise. Let’s keep it that way,” she concludes.
To read Patell’s full blog post, in which she also highlights the ways YouTube supports Canadian creators on the platform, please click here.
Patell photo borrowed from her LinkedIn page.
