(OTTAWA) The Liberals cut time on Thursday for debate on Bill C-11 regarding streaming platforms.
With the support of New Democrats, they pushed through a “closing motion” that prevents adjournment of debate on the House’s response to Senate amendments.
Earlier this month, Justin Trudeau’s government signaled that it wanted several changes put forward by senators to be discarded. However, all elected members of the House must endorse this response to be sent to the Upper House, after a debate.
Due to the “closing motion,” the vote on the message to the Senate is expected to take place around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, said Alex Maheux, press secretary for Government House Leader Mark Holland.
Among the changes the Liberals want to see rejected is one that sought to circumscribe what type of content the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) could or could not regulate at discretion.
Bill C-11 seeks to modernize the Broadcasting Act to include internet streaming platforms such as YouTube, Spotify and Disney. The Trudeau government wants to ensure better “discoverability” of Canadian content.
In particular, the senators wanted to respond to the concerns of content creators that platform users are limited or bullied in what they can share there. The upper chamber wishes to reassure several witnesses heard during the examination of the bill by specifying that the power of the CRTC, if exercised, could only target professional content and not amateur content, for example.
Mr. Holland earlier this month ruled out the possibility that the senators would eventually stand up to the House of Commons.
“I am very confident that the Senate will accept our verdict,” he said.
Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez argued that the government found “a good compromise” by accepting some amendments, but rejecting “those that could create a privilege for some”.