Bill C-10 does not impact net neutrality: Guilbeault

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault says Bill C-10 -- the Liberal government's update of the Broadcasting Act, which now allows for the regulation of content on social media platforms -- will have no impact on net neutrality. His comments were made during the House of Commons’ Question Period, Tuesday. It was also the first question period since an internal memo, in which officials identified now-removed language exempting social media from the revised Broadcasting Act as an “important limitation” on the CRTC’s regulatory powers and which also identified key audio services to be regulated, was made public by the National Post. “I think there's a bit of confusion about the definition of net neutrality, because that definition focuses on infrastructure -- the way that people can access the internet -- Bill C-10 does not impact this at all,” Guilbeault said in French, according to simultaneous translation. The minister’s answer was a response to Conservative MP Alain Rayes, who asked Guilbeault to explain how regulating social media networks respects the concept of net neutrality which “is a principle that should ensure equal treatment of all data flows on the internet.” “All Bill C-10 attempts to do is to ensure that web giants pay their fair share, and that our Canadian artists are more easily accessible on those platforms,” Guilbeault said. “Bill C-10 does not affect how internet service providers manage internet traffic and does not modify the relevant provision in the Telecommunications Act, therefore maintaining net neutrality.” Rayes also grilled the minister about the internal memo -- dated Dec. 8, 2020, and signed by former Heritage Deputy Minister Hélène Laurendeau -- noting that it identified audiobooks and apps as potential sources to be regulated. “The reality is that the Minister is about to give the CRTC the power to regulate web based applications, why?,” Rayes asked during Tuesday’s proceedings, according to simultaneous translation. “Bill C-10 is to ensure that web giants do their fair share. Bill C-10 will not, for example, apply to health applications or videos produced by individuals. We've been very clear about this,” Guilbeault responded. When Rayes asked the minister if social networks, web based applications and audio books will be “clearly excluded” from Bill C-10, Guilbeault reiterated his comments that there will be no requirements for podcasts, training videos or personal videos, when it comes to the act.

Bill C-10 does not impact net neutrality: Guilbeault

Brief | May 25, 2021

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Bill C-10 does not impact net neutrality: Guilbeault

Brief | May 25, 2021

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