Tories attack C11, Grits compare it to CanCon regulations

The Conservatives continue to lambaste the government for the Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11, while the Liberals maintain the Tories are misrepresenting the legislation and compare it to the Canadian Content regulations brought in 50 years ago. The Conservatives have vowed to change the bill in committee. Wednesday in the House of Commons, Conservative MPs John Nater, the party’s critic for Canadian Heritage, and Rachael Thomas went after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the bill, which was scheduled to be debated later that day. The PM went on the offensive. “We’ve always had measures in Canada that promote Canadian music on Canadian TV and Canadian radio, Canadian content. That is something we’ve long had to protect Canadian content creators,” Trudeau said. “Unfortunately once again Conservative politicians stand against the arts community, stand against creators. We believe in making sure Canadians succeed across the world and in a digital world that’s what we’re doing.” Nater demanded that the government explain how the new regulations would be enforced. “If the Prime Minister is so proud of his approach, why does he not simply release the policy directive that he will be sending to the CRTC to implement this law?,” the Ontario MP asked. “The government is asking an entity that has neither the capacity or competency to regulate vast swaths of the internet but the government will not disclose how they will instruct them to do so," Nater said of the CRTC. "Canadians are rightly concerned about how this will impact what they see and hear online. Why is the government asking Parliament to give the CRTC more power over Canadians without telling Canadians what the CRTC will be doing with that power?” Trudeau defended the commission. “In this country the CRTC has always ensured that we promote Canadian creators, Canadian content. That’s what they’ve done on the radio waves for decades, ensuring we have Canadian music played on radio stations,” the Prime Minister stated. “That’s what they’ve done with TV, ensuring that Canadian content gets put on Canadian TV and not just as a way of telling our stories but also as a way of encouraging creators and producers in Canada. In a digital world we need to ensure in the same way Canadian producers of content are protected and upheld and that’s exactly what C-11 does.” Nater was followed by Thomas, who also criticized the legislation. “Digital first creators will be forced to subsidize commercial producers or broadcasters. Let that sink in for one moment here,” the Alberta MP told the House. “This government’s definition of leveling the playing field looks like punishing those who are successful so that they can be equal with those that are not. Tell me, how is that fair?” Trudeau disputed the characterization. “We’ve heard for quite a while now the member for Lethbridge get up and completely mischaracterize what this bill is all about,” he responded. “The fact is it is there to ensure that Canadian creators, the Canadian artistic community, the Canadian producers of content are able to be found by Canadians and by people around the world on the internet. That is something that matters in order to continue to support our creative and artistic community. Why are Conservatives continuing to stand against creators and the stories Canadians want to tell to each other?” This was the second day that Thomas has been jousting with the cabinet over the bill. Tuesday she had a set-to with Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez over what the legislation does and does not do. “Sure, perhaps the bill does not dictate which algorithms have to be used, but it does effectively take control of a person's search bar by determining what content that individual can and cannot access online,” Thomas said on Tuesday. “Say goodbye to consumer choice and say hello to whatever the government wants to force in front of our eyeballs. The minister will say that I am wrong. He will put on a great show.” “I do not have to tell my colleague that she is wrong. Everybody knows that she is wrong,” the minister replied. “They keep inventing facts all the time, but there is one thing that remains: They do not care about our culture. They do not care about our films, our movies and everything that is produced in Canada. That is not important for the Conservatives and that is a shame.” Rodriguez was in friendlier territory later during Tuesday’s Question Period when he got a question from fellow Liberal Patricia Lattanzio. “Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Canadian Heritage organized a summit on culture in Ottawa. One of the main subjects was the modernization of legislation to support our online culture. Passing Bill C-11 is key to achieving that,” the Quebec MP said. “However, the Conservatives would rather play politics and are doing everything they can to block this bill. Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us why the cultural sector strongly supports Bill C-11?” Rodriguez warmed to the softball question. “This is essential for all of our artists, creators and cultural workers, but the Conservatives keep abandoning them again and again,” he said. “They would rather play politics when Canada and the cultural sector need this legislation. It is time to move forward.” –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

Tories attack C11, Grits compare it to CanCon regulations

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Tories attack C11, Grits compare it to CanCon regulations

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