Bill C-10 is the first in Canada to regulate legal internet content. The bill would see the CRTC monitor as public broadcasts all YouTube videos intended for private viewing.
Freedom of speech – at risk in Canada
Canadians need to step up to tackle online hate — even with ‘crazy uncles’, says expert
“I think Canadians need to step up in a way that’s real,” said Mohammed Hashim, executive director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, in an interview with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson.
BREAKING: Liberals, Bloc, NDP vote down Conservative amendment to protect user content from Bill C-10
All members of the Liberal Party, the New Democrats, and the Bloc Quebecois voted against a Conservative amendment to Bill C-10 that would have created clearer stipulations that would count user-generated content as an exception from Bill C-19’s sweeping powers.
This is Who the Canadian Government Wants to Regulate the Internet
The CRTC yesterday released its wholesale Internet rates decision, shocking the industry and consumer groups by reversing its 2019 ruling and virtually guaranteeing increased costs for consumers and less competition for Internet services. Indeed, within hours, TekSavvy, one of the largest independent providers, announced that it was withdrawing from the forthcoming spectrum auction and would no longer offer mobile services. In other words, the competitive and consumer cost reverberations from the decision will impact both broadband and wireless services. When the increased costs coming from Bill C-10 for Internet services are added to the equation, the Internet could get a lot more expensive in Canada.
Why Do the Liberals Love Hate Speech Laws?
The Liberals will soon unveil new legislation to combat ‘hate speech’ by regulating online media.
Despite ample media attention, hate crimes in Canada are a tiny percentage of overall criminality.
Why Do the Liberals Love Hate Speech Laws?@c2cjournalhttps://t.co/WMkbGQUebM
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) May 26, 2021
Is C-10 a bill too far?
For a month, the federal government has been under fire over its broadcasting bill C-10 and its implications for free speech. Peter Menzies, a former commissioner of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, said the bill “doesn’t just infringe on free expression, it constitutes a full-blown assault upon it and, through it, the foundations of democracy.” The National Post’s Anja Karadeglija examines the issues and what’s at stake.
Canada Justice Minister pushes for censorship bill and limited freedoms
Lametti believes that parliament can affect – i.e., limit, Charter Rights and Freedoms in the process of legislation if it is determined that these limitations are “in the broader public interest.”
“This is entirely legitimate. The rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Charter are not absolute but subject to reasonable limits, so long as those limits can be demonstrably justified,” he told the committee.
LAWTON: Opposition to the Trudeau Liberals is an illusion
The Liberal government’s internet regulation bill, C-10, has gone through a convoluted path.
First, user-generated social media content was exempt.
Then, that exemption was stripped away during a heritage committee meeting.
Then, Minister Steven Guilbeault said the exemption wasn’t necessary (ignoring the inconvenient fact that he had presented it as essential when it was first put in the bill.)
Then, Guilbeault changed his mind – again – and promised to exempt content Canadians post to social media from regulatory oversight by the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission after all.
Not Just Big Tech: Government Memo Shows Bill C-10 Targets News Sites, Podcast and Workout Apps, Adult Websites, Audiobooks, and Sports Streamers for CRTC Regulation
Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has tried to deflect public concern with the regulation of user generated content under Bill C-10 by claiming the intent is to make the “web giants” pay their fair share. Yet according to an internal government memo to Guilbeault signed by former Heritage Deputy Minister Hélène Laurendeau released under the Access to Information Act, the department has for months envisioned a far broader regulatory reach. The memo identifies a wide range of targets, including podcast apps such as Stitcher and Pocket Casts, audiobook services such as Audible, home workout apps, adult websites, sports streaming services such as MLB.TV and DAZN, niche video services such as Britbox, and even news sites such as the BBC and CPAC.
Think Regulating User Generated Content in Bill C-10 Is Just an Inadvertent Mistake? Think Again
Over the past week, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has repeatedly been told that Canadian cultural groups are among the strongest supporters of freedom of expression and would never think of supporting legislation that undermines that foundational democratic principle. Yet the reality is that some of the same cultural groups that now downplay the impact of Bill C-10 on expression, lobbied the government to remove all user generated content safeguards. In other words, rather than support freedom of expression for all Canadians, some envisioned using the Broadcast Act to regulate both users and user generated content.
David Lametti stresses Charter rights can be limited in “public interest” at C-10 hearing
Justice Minister David Lametti is reminding members of parliament that constitutional rights and freedoms can be limited.
During an appearance before the House of Commons heritage committee during its hearings on internet regulation bill C-10, Lametti emphasized there are “legitimate” ways in which legislation can infringe the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including freedom of expression.
h/t Marvin
Guilbeault says Bill C-10 won’t breach free speech, citing Justice Department study
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is doubling down on his controversial new broadcasting bill at a parliamentary committee hearing, citing a Justice Department analysis to reiterate the legislation would not affect free speech online.
Bill C-10 doesn’t pose free speech concern despite social media impact, justice minister finds
Bill C-10’s amendments regulating social media websites Canadians use don’t pose any charter-related free speech concerns, Canada’s Justice Minister Davidsaid in the second charter review of the bill.
Ontario medical regulator threatens to punish doctors for criticizing lockdowns
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) plans to investigate physicians who speak out against government lockdown measures, according to a statement issued Friday.
“The college is aware and concerned about the increase of misinformation circulating on social media and other platforms regarding physicians who are publicly contradicting public health orders and recommendations,” said CPSO’s statement.
Peter Menzies: Who’s killing free internet speech? Canada’s culture industry
Canada’s cultural sector, long a champion of rights and social justice, now finds itself — despite Monday’s government pullback — in the awkward position of having inspired the mugging of free speech and expression on the internet.