Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez yesterday pleaded with senators to quickly pass Canada’s first bill to regulate legal internet content. Members of the Senate transport and communications committee warned of likely amendments to Bill C-11 An Act To Amend The Broadcasting Act..“It’s important today that we be able to adopt this bill quickly,” testified Rodriguez. “I am asking you, please, Senators, take action.”.“It’s been six months now that the bill has been with the Senate, 40 hours or so in committee I believe,” said Rodriguez. “How many? Forty-two hours. Extraordinary work has been done and I congratulate you, but it is really time that this bill be adopted.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, Bill C-11 would mandate federal regulation of commercial internet content on platforms like YouTube. The bill does not define “commercial.” Senators have sought explicit amendments to exclude user-generated content..“That’s why they are in the business of creating content,” said Senator Pamela Wallin (Sask.). “They make money. They are YouTubers, they are TikTokers. They generate money for somebody, therefore they are within the regulatory fence proposed here.”.“I think what we’re boiling it down to is Canadians need to have clarity in their legislation,” said Senator Jim Quinn (N.B.). The bill, the first ever to regulate legal internet content, “touches all Canadians,” said Quinn..“Yes or no, would you support amendments that bring clarity to the bill?” asked Senator Quinn. “If I don’t see the amendment I could not say yes or no to the amendment,” replied Rodriguez. “But I am open to discussions as always.”.“The clarity still isn’t there,” said Senator Leo Housakos (Que.), chair of the communications committee. “There will be substantive changes to this bill,” he added..“These are some of the loose bolts this committee would like to tighten up,” said Housakos. “When we hear all the witnesses that came to this committee, both those in favour and those against the bill, I don’t recall one saying, ‘We don’t want substantive changes.’”.Bill C-11 passed the House of Commons last June 21 by a vote of 208 to 117. The vote came a week after cabinet imposed closure to limit debate at the Commons heritage committee. “They are censoring the censorship of their own censorship bill,” Conservative MP Blaine Calkins (Red Deer-Lacombe, Alta.) said at the time. “That is what is happening.”.A similar Bill C-10 An Act To Amend The Broadcasting Act was introduced in 2020 but lapsed in the last Parliament on protests it regulated individual expression. “It’s true we did try to get a similar bill last year,” Minister Rodriguez earlier told reporters. “So what’s new? We took stock from the work done in the last Parliament. We listened.”
