Tories put forward motion to kill Bill C-18, send “subject matter” to committee

Conservative MP John Nater wants the Liberal government to withdraw its Online News Act and instead send the “subject matter” to the House of Commons Heritage Committee, claiming that there are many questions the bill does not address. Members of parliament Friday debated the act, known as Bill C-18, in the House of Commons during its second reading. Nater put forward an official amendment to the second reading motion, in which he called for the bill to be withdrawn and that the bill's subject matter be sent to the Heritage Committee. The government launched the Online News Act, known as Bill C-18, in April, which seeks to create a new regime for the remuneration of news outlets by digital platforms, based on the Australian model. Nater argued that small community newspapers in Australia have complained that they have been left out of the negotiation process, and he claimed Canada could face similar issues. “There has been mention in the bill that the rules of the Competition Act would be set aside to allow for collective bargaining, but we have no clarification on how that works,” he said. “We want to see the subject matter go to committee quickly so that we can have those discussions with local newspapers, whether they're from Kingston, or Perth, Wellington, or Chatham-Kent-Leamington. We want to hear those voices.” Nater said that while the advertising model for the news industry has diminished, “what has not diminished is the continued need for impartial, honest, and trustworthy sources of news,” which he said the government's bill does not address. Nater said there is no indication on how much revenue Bill C-18 will generate. “Budget 2022 earmarks $8.5 million for the bureaucracy necessary to administer C-18. So it is logical to ask whether the revenues generated through this bill will be greater than or less than the costs to administer it,” he said. Under Bill C-18, the CRTC will be in charge of determining which organizations qualify for bargaining with digital outlets, and what digital platforms qualify for an exemption from bargaining. The CRTC will also be tasked with adjudicating undue preference complaints and conducting final offer arbitration between platforms and news outlets under the act. Nater said the CRTC does not have the history or experience necessary to regulate online platforms. “Let's not forget that the CRTC is the same entity whose chair met privately for beers with one of the largest industries that they regulate,” he said. He added that “beyond the chairs clear lack of judgement” the CRTC has still not implemented a three-digit suicide prevention hotline since the house passed a motion more than 500 days ago. He added that it has been more than 16 months since the CRTC held hearings about the licence renewal for the CBC/Radio Canada. Friday afternoon, the CRTC posted the job opening for chair of the regulator to replace Ian Scott, whose term ends in September. Conservatives raised similar concerns over the CRTC’s regulatory reach Wednesday as MPs debated Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act. Nater offered up a list of questions the Conservatives are raising over the bill, including: how the code of conduct will be developed and whether it will be tabled before Parliament; why a Charter statement has not been tabled in relation to the bill; will non-Canadian news providers be able to benefit from the Canadian system; and why public broadcasters were included. NDP MP Jenny Kwan noted that if the Conservatives were to pass the bill for second reading it would go to committee and, therefore, the opposition could ask their questions to witnesses as it pertains to the bill. “The NDP supports the notion to, and has been calling for the government to, equalize the web giants with especially small local media outlets. And this bill is a good start. And so why would the member want to kill the bill if you really truly want to have a discussion about it and have witnesses present to this issue?” Nater answered that the Conservatives would have drafted their own news compensation bill differently if they were in power, and that there are “very few amendments that are acceptable at second reading debate.” “This will provide the subject matter to go to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and make suggestions, and make a report back, to the House of Commons,” he said of his move to kill Bill C-18. “All parties can contribute and listen to witnesses... who want to have an input on this bill, both positive, negative, and with clear ideas for suggestions to improve or change or rewrite, entirely, this bill.” The Liberal MPs generally argued that in order to support strong and independent journalism, tech giants need to do their part because they are siphoning off a majority of advertising revenue from news outlets. Liberal MP Chris Bittle, in the opening speech of the debate, called Bill C-18 a market-based approach that incentivizes parties to come to agreements on their own. He added that smaller, independent, news outlets can bargain as a collective if they wish. He said that the government will not determine which news outlets are eligible to strike an agreement with digital platforms. “There are criteria written in the bill. This is as black and white as it gets,” he said. Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu said she did not trust Bittle’s comments that the bill was without discrimination. “In every other media policy that this government has brought there has been discrimination along the political spectrum,” she said, claiming the bill will benefit large news outlets. The house adjourned for the day before members voted on the Conservative amendment – Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca.

Tories put forward motion to kill Bill C-18, send “subject matter” to committee

Broadcast | May 13, 2022

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Tories put forward motion to kill Bill C-18, send “subject matter” to committee

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