Jean-Stéphen Piché and Thomas Owen Ripley made statements and, with Kathy Tsui, answered questions.

At 12:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:07 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Minister made a statement and answered questions.

The Chair presented the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows:

Your subcommittee met on Monday, March 1, 2021, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the committee invite the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to appear before the committee for one hour on Friday, March 26, 2021, on the study of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts; that notwithstanding the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, governing opening statements, that the CRTC be given up to 10 minutes to give their opening remarks; and that, for the second hour, the committee invite the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) and l’Association des professionnels de l’édition musicale (APEM) on the study of Bill C-10.

2. That pursuant to the motion adopted in committee on Friday, February 19, 2021, officials from the Department of Canadian Heritage appear on Monday, March 8, 2021, in the first hour to brief committee members on the study of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts; that, notwithstanding the motion adopted by the committee on Wednesday, October 14, 2021, governing opening statements, the officials be given up to 15 minutes to give their opening remarks; and that, the Minister of Canadian Heritage appear with officials in the second hour on the study of Bill C-10.

3. That the committee hear witnesses on the study of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts on Monday, March 22, 2021; and that pursuant to the motion adopted in committee on Friday, February 19, 2021, the Union des artistes (UDA), the Fédération nationale des communications et de la culture (FNCC) and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, be invited to that meeting.

4. That pursuant to the motion adopted in committee on Friday, February 26, 2021, Facebook be contacted with two potential meeting dates for the follow-up meeting on the study of Relations Between Facebook and the Federal Government – Monday, March 15, 2021, and Monday, March 29, 2021.

5. That the committee commence clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, on Monday, April 12, 2021; and that the deadline for members to submit amendments to the committee clerk be Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

6. That the committee publish on the committee’s website written responses to questions provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

7. That the committee pilot a new standard meeting format with a single panel of witnesses for a two-hour meeting, including a five-minute health break mid-meeting, on Monday, March 22, 2021.

It was agreed, — That the First Report from the subcommittee be concurred in.