The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) filed a memorandum with the Senate Transport and Communications Committee denouncing Bill C-11. .“I am sure the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) cannot wait to begin censoring the government’s dissenting political opponents on the internet — a power it can wield if C-11 is passed in its current form,” said JCCF Legislative Counsel Keith Pridgen in a Wednesday press release. .“At best, C-11 is an ill-informed and out-of-touch attempt to regulate the internet like traditional media.” .Bill C-11 would give the CRTC the power to control all streaming platforms and audio-visual content uploaded on the internet. The memorandum contains five amendments by JCCF lawyers that would protect Canadians from the worst aspects of C-11 if implemented. .Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos (Quebec) is on record saying the Canadian government’s attempts “to ram through flawed censorship Bill C-11 with no discussion or debate should outrage every Canadian.” .“The Senate must and will conduct a full and transparent study of the bill,” said Housakos. .The release said the JCCF encourages all concerned Canadians to contact their senators and remind them freedom of expression is important and should be protected. .“Canadians do not need any help from the government to find online content that is sufficiently Canadian,” said Pridgen. .Former CRTC commissioner Timothy Denton said in September the Canadian government should not pass Bill C-11. .READ MORE: Former CRTC commissioner says Bill C-11 is a 'power grab over human communications'.“It captures virtually all online audio and video,” said Denton. .He called the bill a “power grab over human communications across the internet and therefore deserves our distinct disdain.”
