THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Tuesday, May 2, 2023
(51)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 9 a.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Leo Housakos, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Cardozo, Clement, Cormier, Dasko, Harder, P.C., Housakos, Manning, Miville-Dechêne, Quinn, Simons and Wallin (11).

Participating in the meeting: Khamla Heminthavong and Jed Chong, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, the committee continued its examination of Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.

WITNESSES:

Macdonald-Laurier Institute:

Peter Menzies, Senior Fellow (by videoconference).

FRIENDS:

Marla Boltman, Executive Director (by videoconference);

Sarah Andrews, Director, Government and Media Relations (by videoconference).

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission:

Scott Shortliffe, Executive Director, Broadcasting;

Daniel Pye, Director, News Remuneration;

Adam Balkovec, Legal counsel, Legal Sector.

As an individual:

Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa.

Peter Menzies, Marla Boltman and Michael Geist each made a statement and, together with Sarah Andrews, answered questions.

At 10:04 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:09 a.m., the committee resumed.

Scott Shortliffe made a statement and, together with Daniel Pye and Adam Balkovec, answered questions.

At 10:48 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:50 a.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to consider a draft agenda (future business).

At 11:18 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee