QUESTION PERIOD — Canadian Heritage
Quebec Music
November 21, 2023
Senator Gold, the National Assembly of Quebec recently adopted a motion calling on owners of platforms such as YouTube and Spotify to adjust their algorithms to promote the discoverability of Quebec music. To that end, the motion calls for the platforms to consider Quebec as a state. Moreover, Quebec’s minister of the French language promised to introduce a bill in that regard. Given that the federal government is working on implementing Bill C-11, which was passed last year, how do you view Quebec wanting to adopt parallel legislation?
Thank you for the question.
Bill C-11 is an important piece of legislation for the whole country. It modernizes the Broadcasting Act to adapt to the Internet era and to create a more creative, more equitable and more competitive market for Canadian and Quebec talent. I commend the interest of parliamentarians in this issue. I can’t really comment on whether a provincial government wants to legislate in this area or not. As a former constitutional law professor, I am a bit reluctant to speak to hypothetical matters without having the legislation in front of me.
I understand your concern, but I will try again anyway. The Quebec government is saying that, according to the constitutional and other experts it consulted, it has the right to implement its own cultural protection and promotion measures.
In your opinion, could the Government of Quebec adopt a more stringent and possibly even contradictory approach to the one set out in Bill C-11, particularly on algorithms?
That would be a good topic for a constitutional review, but I am sure you will understand that I can’t comment on the constitutionality of a bill that has not yet been written.
