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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 58
Friday, December 2, 2022, 1:03 p.m. to 3:03 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Hon. Hedy Fry, Chair (Liberal)

• Sylvie Bérubé for Martin Champoux (Bloc Québécois)
• Ron Liepert for Martin Shields (Conservative)
House of Commons
• Philippe Méla, Legislative Clerk
• Jean-François Pagé, Legislative Clerk
 
Library of Parliament
• Gabrielle de Billy Brown, Analyst
• Marion Ménard, Analyst
The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the Honorable Thomas Cromwell, former Supreme Court Justice, be invited to appear before the committee in relation to its study of safe sport in Canada on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, provided that the committee has concluded its clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.

Department of Canadian Heritage
• Thomas Owen Ripley, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs
• Michel Sabbagh, Director General, Broadcasting, Copyright, and Creative Marketplace Branch
• Joelle Paré, Acting Director, Marketplace and Legislative Policy
• Frederick Matern, Manager, Marketplace and Legislative Policy
Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, May 31, 2022, the committee resumed consideration of Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.

Thomas Owen Ripley answered questions.

The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration on Clause 27 of the Bill.

On Clause 27,

Martin Champoux moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing line 4 on page 10 with the following:

“(b) produces news content of public interest that is primarily focused”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Martin Champoux and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7;

NAYS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4.

Rachael Thomas moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing line 5 on page 10 with the following:

“on reports of current”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rachael Thomas and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4;

NAYS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7.

Rachael Thomas moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 10 with the following:

“(i) regularly employs one or more journalists in Canada, which journalists may include journalists who own or are a partner in the news business, journalists who are engaged in civic journalism for underserved communities and journalists who work on a freelance or part-time basis,”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rachael Thomas and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4;

NAYS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7.

Pursuant to the order adopted by the committee on Monday, December 13, 2021, the following amendment, submitted by Mike Morrice for the consideration of the committee, was deemed moved:

That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing line 9 on page 10 with the following:

“Canada, which journalists may include journalists who own or are a partner in the news business,”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mike Morrice and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Martin Champoux — 1;

NAYS: Chris Bittle, Michael Coteau, Marilyn Gladu, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Ron Liepert, Tim Louis, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 10.

Peter Julian moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing line 9 on page 10 with the following:

“Canada, which journalists may include journalists who own or are a partner in the news business and journalists who do not deal at arm's length with the business,”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7;

NAYS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4.

Rachael Thomas moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by adding after line 11 on page 10 the following:

“(ii.1) is effectively owned and controlled by Canadians,

(ii.2) receives no funding from a foreign state as defined in section 30 of the Competition Act, an agent of a foreign state or an entity that is controlled by a foreign state, and”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rachael Thomas and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4;

NAYS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7.

Rachael Thomas moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by replacing lines 12 to 15 on page 10 with the following:

“(iii) produces news content that does not consist primarily of paid promotional material for the products, services or activities of the owner of the news business or any of its affiliates, or for those of a third party.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Rachael Thomas and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Marilyn Gladu, Ron Liepert, Rachael Thomas, Kevin Waugh — 4;

NAYS: Chris Bittle, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Lisa Hepfner, Anthony Housefather, Peter Julian, Tim Louis — 7.

Martin Champoux moved, — That Bill C-18, in Clause 27, be amended by adding after line 15 on page 10 the following:

“(iv) is a member of a recognized journalistic association, follows the code of ethics of a recognized journalistic association or has its own code of ethics whose standards of professional conduct require adherence to the recognized processes and principles of the journalism profession, including fairness, independence and rigour in reporting news and handling sources.”

Debate arose thereon.

Anthony Housefather moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “is a member of a recognized journalistic association,” with the words “is either a member of a recognized journalistic association and”.

By unanimous consent, after debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Anthony Housefather and it was agreed to.

By unanimous consent, the question was put on the subamendment of Anthony Housefather and it was agreed to.

Peter Julian moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding the following paragraph: “(1.1) The code of ethics referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(iv) must include measures for ensuring that no news content that promotes hatred or misinformation against any identifiable group is produced or made available and that any errors of fact are corrected promptly and in a transparent manner.”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 3:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Aimée Belmore
Clerk of the committee