Conservatives seek Quebec consultation on Online Streaming Act

During Tuesday’s Question Period, two Conservative MPs from Quebec took up the cause of mandatory consultation with the province for the Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11. The provincial government is seeking talks with its federal counterparts over provisions of the legislation, which is in the final stages of working its way through Parliament. Pierre Paul-Hus pointed out that the Bloc Québécois is supporting the bill. The New Democrats are also in favour of the legislation. “Do the Prime Minister and the Bloc agree with Minister Lacombe when it comes to Quebec culture and the fact that the government needs to send the bill to committee?,” the Tory MP asked. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez praised his allies. “Mr. Speaker, we cooperate extremely well with the Government of Quebec on culture and on many other files too,” he responded. “The Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Liberal Party understand the importance of culture. They understand the importance of asking various streaming platforms, like Netflix and Disney, which are very popular, to contribute to Canadian culture.” He accused the Conservatives of abandoning Canadian creators through their opposition to the bill. When Paul-Hus repeated his call for the legislation to be returned to committee, Rodriguez went on the attack. “I wonder how a member from Quebec and the other colleagues from Quebec can come here to debate and say that we do not need this bill when everyone in Quebec is calling for it,” he asserted. “We need C-11 for every industry, including the music, television and film sectors, so we can continue being the best in the world in what we do, despite the Conservatives.” Another Quebec Conservative, Gérard Deltell, picked up the thread, asking that the government consider amendments proposed by the Senate and the request for consultation from the provincial government. Rodriguez accused the Tories of trying to delay the bill. “The Conservatives just want to filibuster. They have gone on at great length about everything under the sun—very eloquently, I will give them that—but at the end of the day, we need this bill,” he stated. “We are competing with global giants. We need to keep putting our very best out there. We need Bill C-11. We will keep working with Quebec regardless of what the Conservatives do.” Deltell disputed the minister’s charge. “Listening to Quebec does not mean filibustering. It means being respectful of the will of the Government of Quebec and the Quebec National Assembly,” he countered. The minister wouldn’t budge. “As far as dog-and-pony shows go, this is the biggest one of the year,” he said. “It is even bigger than the one put on by the Bloc Québécois. The Conservatives have been filibustering since the beginning of the year. They do not give a damn about supporting culture.” He told the Commons he would be meeting his Quebec counterpart this weekend. Earlier in the day, Conservative Heritage critic Rachael Thomas delivered a statement condemning the bill. “Now, however, the Government of Quebec is standing up and speaking out. It is sounding the alarm bells,” the Alberta MP stated. “It does not want to be dictated to by the Liberal government, or for that matter, any government. Therefore, it is urging the Prime Minister to give the provinces a voice. Unfortunately, My NDP and Bloc colleagues are standing with the Liberal regime. On this side, my Conservative colleagues and I are standing with the Province of Quebec as it calls on the Liberal government to give it a voice.” She also called for the legislation to be returned to committee for further consideration. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

Conservatives seek Quebec consultation on Online Streaming Act

Broadcast | February 15, 2023

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Conservatives seek Quebec consultation on Online Streaming Act

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