Feds signal room for tweaking online streaming bill in committee
The federal government has signalled it is open to MPs tweaking a bill that would subject streaming companies, such as Netflix, to the same rules as traditional Canadian broadcasters.
Chris Bittle, parliamentary secretary to the heritage minister, said in the House of Commons on Tuesday there is "room" for MPs to amend the bill after it goes to committee for scrutiny.
On Tuesday during Commons debate, Tory MPs indicated they planned to table amendments to the bill, which they say is flawed.
The Online Streaming Act would require web firms to offer a set amount of Canadian content and invest heavily in Canada's cultural industries, including film, television and music.
It would make it easier for people to find Canadian content -- including films and TV programs -- and ensure that streaming platforms promote it.
But digital-first creators, who prioritize new media, and platforms such as YouTube are concerned the bill would give the broadcast regulator sweeping powers, including the right to regulate people posting videos.
Bill C-11, as it is known in Parliament, updates the 1991 Broadcasting Act, which predates the internet revolution that changed the way people watch film and video and listen to music.
Conservative MP Rachael Thomas, who sits on the heritage committee, raised concerns the proposed law would lead to regulation of people who post videos on platforms such as YouTube.
Thomas accused the government of "going after" digital-first creators and "new innovative artists" to support "traditional, antiquated outdated artists who can't make a go of it otherwise."
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman said the bill is a "near copy of the deeply flawed" C-10, a previous version of the bill introduced in the last Parliament which did not become law before the 2021 general election.
The bill would make Canada the first country to regulate content online and "punish" successful Canadian digital creators, Lantsman said.
She said giving the federal broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the power to regulate content that generates revenue means virtually all content on the internet would be regulated, creating an "internet czar."
Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has previously said the bill would not affect people posting material such as cat videos, and would only cover commercial content like professionally produced music also found on streaming platforms such as Spotify.
Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara said the bill will "make clear that digital-first creators will be excluded."
He also indicated that Rodriguez plans to issue a "policy direction" to the CRTC once the bill has passed through Parliament defining what commercial content means and reiterating that people posting videos will not be affected by the bill.
He said the government has listened to the concerns of Canadians and parties including the streaming industry, adding that all will be able to give feedback before the CRTC starts its work.
Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux said the bill is "not an attack on freedoms. It is all about updating the Broadcasting Act."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2022.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government鈥檚 three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party鈥檚 popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn鈥檛 be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Tropical Storm Milton forms in Gulf of Mexico, could intensify as a hurricane threatening Florida
Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is located 220 miles (355 kilometres) north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico.
Trump rallies at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate him
Donald Trump picked up where he left off back in July when a gunman tried to assassinate him but only struck his ear before he raised his fist and shouted 鈥淔ight!鈥 and was whisked away with blood across his face.
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton鈥檚 McMaster University.
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
Argentine star Lionel Messi was on the bench to start Inter Miami CF's game in Toronto on Saturday.
Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.
Local Spotlight
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.