Bloc wants to work with Libs, NDP to pass bill like C-10 in minority government

The Bloc Québécois is asking Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to promise that should a minority government be formed, the three parties will work together to swiftly pass a bill “identical” to C-10 in its effort to promote and protect Quebec culture and French-language content. “In the event of a Conservative minority government, the Bloc Québécois will introduce a bill identical to C-10 and will seek the support of the Liberals and the NDP to have it adopted despite the Conservative persistence in harming the arts and culture of Quebec,” Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet stated, according to a translation, in a Wednesday press release. Blanchet also called out the Liberal government for delaying work on a revised Broadcasting Act during its term and then calling an election before it could pass. He pointed to Minister of Heritage Steven Guilbeault’s own estimates that the cultural sector is losing $70 million per month without the new bill. “They must make amends to Quebec's cultural community,” Blanchet said of the Liberal government. The Liberal party promised to reintroduce legislation to reform the Broadcasting Act if re-elected within its first 100 days in office in its new platform. During the last parliamentary session, the Liberals, with the support of the Bloc, placed a "gag order” on both the Heritage committee and House of Commons to limit debate on Bill C-10 in an attempt to pass it before the end of the session and circumvent Conservative filibustering. “The Bloc had offered rare support for a gag order to force it through quickly, fearing the Liberals would let the bill die on the order paper by calling a hasty election,” Blanchet stated in his release. The NDP sided with the Conservatives by voting against the gag order but ultimately voted to support the bill and send it to the Senate, and also sided with the Liberals and Bloc to include social media in the revised act. In its platform, the NDP said it would “modernize the Broadcasting Act fairly in order to create a level playing field between Canadian broadcasters and foreign streaming services,” but did not commit to a specific timeframe for reintroducing the updated broadcasting legislation. Blanchet said his party’s “hand is always outstretched” and passing a bill identical to the original Bill C-10 is possible regardless of which party takes power in a minority government. “The Bloc Québécois will always be an ally and a proud representative of Quebec artists and creators, because we do not entrust our culture to the neighbouring nation," he stated. Blanchet also said his party is committed to pushing for a three per cent tax on web giants -- something which the Conservative party also promised to do in its platform.

Bloc wants to work with Libs, NDP to pass bill like C-10 in minority government

Brief | September 15, 2021

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Bloc wants to work with Libs, NDP to pass bill like C-10 in minority government

Brief | September 15, 2021

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