With Bill C-11 on the verge of becoming law, Senate Conservatives decry gov't debate cut-off plans
As the Senate prepares to pass Bill C-11 after making history with the extent of its legislative study, the Conservatives are decrying the government for moving to limit the hours left to debate the legislation known as the Online Streaming Act.
Calling it one last "censorship measure" before the bill becomes law, Leader of the Opposition Sen. Don Plett said Monday that the government's plan to use time allocation to conclude debate in the next day or so is "a slap in the face" to Canadians who have concerns with Bill C-11 and to all senators who tried to improve it.
Bill C-11 proposes the first substantive updates to Canada's Broadcasting Act since 1991, before online content or digital media was a factor. It is aimed at ensuring social media and streaming giants are subjected to Canadian content requirements and regulations comparable to traditional broadcasters, and as a result promote and pay their fair share towards Canadian creators.
While many in the "CanCon" music, film and television industries are backing the bill, alarms have been sounded by critics— including the platforms that would find themselves subjected to new regulations— that the Liberal proposal could have knock-on effects for content creators and what everyday users see online, due to provisions that would compel platforms to promote Canadian content.
After years of discussion, study, and modifications to the initial piece of legislation, last month the House of Commons decided it would take most, but not all, of the amendments made by the Senate during its history-making committee study of Bill C-11. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez told the Senate as much in late March.
Last week, Government Representative in the Senate, Sen. Marc Gold presented a motion that would see the Senate accept the version of Bill C-11 that the House of Commons signed off on.
The presentation of Gold's proposal was followed by hours of debate and procedural wrangling around amendments to it.
After appearing at an impasse, late Thursday night following a push from the Conservatives to adjourn, Gold gave notice of what's known as "time allocation," a move that puts limits on how much further time can be spent talking about a specific item of business.
"This is a censorship measure on a censorship bill in a chamber that has been repeatedly touted as more independent," Plett said in his Monday statement. "The Trudeau government has decided, and demonstrated, that speedy passage of its legislation trumps Senate independence."
If passed when it's presented on Tuesday, the time allocation motion would mean the Senate would be provided up to six further hours of debate on Bill C-11—specifically on Gold's proposed Senate message to the House on the bill.
Then there will be votes on a pair of amendments, including one from Plett that would see the upper chamber stand its ground and insist on the amendments that Bill C-11's sponsor Rodriguez rejected, followed by a vote on Gold's main motion proposing the Senate signoff on the version of the bill the majority of the Commons' voted for.
If the amendments fail and the main motion passes as it stands, the House will be informed that the current version of the legislation has cleared the Senate and the contentious bill is ready for royal assent, the final step before a bill becomes law.
Gold's motion asked the Senate to acknowledge the Liberals' "stated intent" is that Bill C-11 "will not apply to user-generated digital content" despite persisting concerns that the legislation has inadequate protections. But, during deliberations last week, senators passed a tweak to the wording, replacing the words "stated intent" with the words "public assurance."
During last week's debate, several MPs from various groups within the upper chamber took turns speaking to Bill C-11 as it stands, how the long-languishing Liberal promise has evolved after considerable scrutiny even after the government rejected some of the more substantive changes, and how they felt about standing down or insisting on certain amendments.
"This is our time. This is our moment to stand up," said Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos, who led what he called an "unprecedented" Senate committee study on Bill C-11 that included nearly 70 hours of testimony.
"The government claims it rejected the amendment that would have scoped out user-generated content because they want to afford the CRTC flexibility through the consultative process on the regulatory framework. They’re sacrificing clarity in the law itself to supposedly ensure clarity in the consultative process. Does that make any sense to anybody here?" Housakos asked his colleagues.
In his speech, member of the Progressive Senate Group Sen. Andrew Cardozo called the process surrounding Bill C-11 "a textbook case of how our bicameral system works," while suggesting that the way this legislation has been handled may be a forbearer for future policymaking.
"It is also a textbook case because of the high political drama it has encountered, replete with many delay tactics and fundraising off the process," said Cardozo. "But it is still an interesting case where we have seen a massive online campaign over the last few months. This is either an exception to the norm of constructive policy-making or, in fact, the 'new normal' that will eliminate constructive policy-making in favour of divisive, partisan and extra-parliamentary campaigns."
The Conservatives have led the legislative charge—alongside tech giants including YouTube, Google and Meta—against Bill C-11. In a fundraising email to supporters sent Sunday, the party said the Senate was their "last shot" at stopping the bill before it becomes law.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa last week, Rodriguez said Bill C-11 is an important bill and "it's time to move on."
IN DEPTH
Why the outcome of one Toronto byelection could be consequential for Trudeau, Poilievre
The stakes are high in a looming June 24 federal byelection in a long-held Liberal riding in Toronto, and if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's party shows signs of slipping, it could spark a bigger conversation, CTV News' pollster Nik Nanos says.
'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.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
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’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s 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’t 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
BREAKING 'All hands on deck situation': City of Calgary declares state of local emergency over water main break
The City of Calgary declared a local state of emergency Saturday morning in response to the latest developments in a major water main break that is impacting the city.
A new tax filing system could give Canadians more than $1 billion in unclaimed benefits: PBO
Canadians would get more than $1 billion in unclaimed benefits each year through an automatic tax filing system, according to a report published by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).
U.K. royals unite on palace balcony as Princess of Wales returns to public view after cancer diagnosis
London put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales ' first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year.
Trudeau calls into question findings of stunning watchdog foreign interference report
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has concerns with how conclusions were gathered in a spy watchdog report.
Man who stabbed Mexican tourist in Vancouver Tim Hortons 2 years ago released from prison, police warn
Vancouver police are warning the public that the man who stabbed a stranger in a downtown coffee shop in January 2022 has been released and will be living in the city again.
Think cicadas are weird? Check out superfans, who eat the bugs, use them in art and even striptease
Mayumi Barrack sees a pair of mating periodical cicadas getting together, whips out her phone, says, 'Hi guys!' and takes their picture.
93-year-old pleads guilty to careless driving after crash involving CTV Kitchener reporter
A 93-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing bodily harm in the crash that sent CTV News Kitchener reporter Stephanie Villella to hospital with life-threatening injuries last year.
Winning Lotto Max ticket for $55 million jackpot sold in GTA
A lucky lotto player in the Greater Toronto Area is waking up with millions more reasons to smile this morning.
U.S. regulators investigating unusual 'Dutch roll' of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max
Federal officials are investigating an unusual rolling motion during the flight of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max.
Local Spotlight
Moncton bakery owner celebrates 35 years with 220-foot flatbread
Fancy Pokket owner Mike Timani has decided to create a 220-foot long flat bread to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
'Too much warming': Polar bears in Hudson Bay could go extinct by 2030s if global temperatures continue to increase
If certain goals that are in the Paris Climate Accord aren't met, the existence of polar bears in the Hudson Bay may come to an end.
Swift Current offers to temporarily rename itself if Taylor Swift returns to Sask.
In an attempt to invite one of the most popular recording artists in the world to the land of living skies – the City of Swift Current has offered to rename itself in honour of Taylor Swift.
Adult dogs, puppies arrive in Moncton from Manitoba in search of forever homes
More than a dozen dogs arrived by Cargojet early Thursday morning to the People for Animal Wellbeing Shelter to find a permanent place to call home in New Brunswick.
Video captures whale breaching off Peggy's Cove, N.S.
Peggy's Cove, N.S., is one of the most famous locations in the Maritimes. Recent visitors were treated to more than just the iconic landmark.
Hundreds of fans line up to meet the Trailer Park Boys at promotional event
Hundreds of fans lined up to meet the Trailer Park Boys in Dartmouth, N.S., Tuesday, as Ricky, Bubbles and Julian promoted their new brand of potato chips.
'Nothing a little duct tape won't fix': Bear breaks into northern Ont. woman's car, destroys interior before taking nap
Car break-ins plague Canadians across the country, but instead of worrying about theft, a northern Ontario woman is cleaning up a big mess that she says will not be covered by insurance after a black bear broke into her Honda Civic and took a nap.
Albertans attempt to build the world’s tallest Popsicle stick structure
Members of a Hutterite colony in southern Alberta have potentially built the world's tallest structure made of Popsicle sticks.
After 300 days in a B.C. shelter, this dog finally found his forever home
A dog who spent the first three-and-a-half years of his life suffering and almost a year at a shelter has found his forever home, according to the BC SPCA.