Senate showdown ahead? Minister rejects some Bill C-11 amendments
CTV
After taking weeks to consider the Senate's changes to the Liberals' contentious online streaming legislation known as Bill C-11, Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has confirmed he's rejecting several of the amendments made, prompting a potential legislative showdown.
After taking weeks to consider the Senate's changes to the Liberals' contentious online streaming legislation known as Bill C-11, Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has confirmed he's rejecting several of the amendments made.
While the Liberals are poised to accept the majority of legislative adjustments made in the upper chamber during its longest-ever study of a piece of government legislation, they are turning down a few of the Senate's more consequential changes and suggesting further tweaks to others.
This means Bill C-11 may be heading for a legislative showdown.
The long-languishing legislation is aimed at updating Canada's Broadcasting Act regime to ensure social media and streaming giants like YouTube and Netflix are subjected to Canadian content requirements and regulations comparable to traditional broadcasters.
However, Bill C-11 has been the subject of heavy scrutiny from industry stakeholders, content creators and opposition MPs who fear it will result in censoring what content gets seen online.
In a message sent to the Senate, Rodriguez outlined which of the 26 amendments to 12 clauses the Liberals will be allowing. The federal government's response is set to be debated by MPs in the House of Commons later on Wednesday.
If the take-some-and-leave-some approach is accepted, Bill C-11 will pass and soon become law, allowing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to get to work on implementing the coinciding regulatory changes granting that body new powers.
