THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 31, 2023
(58)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications met this day at 6:45 p.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, Miville-Dechêne, Simons and Wallin (9).

Participating in the meeting: Khamla Heminthavong, Analyst, 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:

Minderoo Foundation:

Emma McDonald, Senior Policy Advisor (by videoconference).

Star Observer:

Lawrence Gibbons, Group Publisher, Star Observer and City Hub and Co-chair of the Public Interest Publishers Alliance (by videoconference);

Chris Gogos, Publisher of Neos Kosmos and Director of the Independent Multicultural Media Association (by videoconference).

Unifor:

Randy Kitt, Media Sector Director.

OpenMedia:

Matthew Hatfield, Campaigns Director (by videoconference).

Internet Society Canada Chapter:

Philip Palmer, President;

Sue Gardner, Member, Policy Committee.

As an individual:

Rod Sims, Professor, Australian National University (by videoconference).

Emma McDonald, Lawrence Gibbons and Rod Sims each made a statement and, together with Chris Gogos, answered questions.

At 7:47 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 7:52 p.m., the committee resumed.

Randy Kitt, Matthew Hatfield and Philip Palmer each made a statement and, together with Sue Gardner, answered questions.

At 8:41 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of those elements contained in Division 2 of Part 3, and Divisions 22 and 23 of Part 4 of Bill C-47, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.

The committee considered a draft report.

It was agreed that the draft report, as amended, be adopted, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 8:47 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Vincent Labrosse

Clerk of the Committee