‘Create loopholes’: Heritage minister plans to reject Senate changes to streaming bill – National | 24CA News

The Liberal authorities’s controversial Online Streaming Act is again within the House of Commons, the place MPs are set to debate the Senate’s amendments.

Also referred to as Bill C-11, it could require massive tech corporations that supply on-line streaming providers, resembling YouTube, Netflix and Spotify, to contribute to Canadian content material.

If handed, the invoice will replace broadcasting guidelines to incorporate on-line streaming and require these corporations make Canadian content material accessible to customers in Canada — or face steep penalties.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez stated his intent is to reject a number of Senate amendments that don’t align with the spirit of the invoice, together with one that’s aimed toward defending creators who add movies on YouTube.

He stated that proposed modification would enable massive tech corporations a loophole to keep away from paying into the media fund.

2:31Conservatives ‘think culture is what you find in a yogurt bottle’: Rodriguez

“We recognize (the Senate’s) exhaustive work, and we will be accepting a large majority of the amendments they adopted,” Rodriguez stated Wednesday.

“As promised, we are accepting amendments that ensure tech giants pay their fair share toward our culture, and we are declining the amendments that create loopholes. That’s what Canadian artists and creators have asked us to do.”

YouTube, which pushed for the change, stated it could have protected the livelihoods of digital creators.

“It is inexplicable and deeply unsettling for tens of thousands of Canadian creators that the Senate’s efforts to add common sense clarity to this legislation could be rejected,” stated Jeanette Patell, head of Canada authorities affairs and public coverage for YouTube, in an announcement.

“We hope that MPs listen to creator concerns, and we remain committed to advocating for our creators and users in Canada at every step in this process.”

Digital First Canada, a bunch that advocates for thousands and thousands of Canadian on-line content material creators, additionally expressed dismay in Rodriguez’s determination, saying it’s a “slap in the face” to creators who took half within the legislative course of and to senators “who recognized these creators as the future of Canada’s digital economy.”

“It’s shocking that the Senate’s sober second thought was dismissed, and that the government continues to act as though digital creators are not legitimate artists and entrepreneurs,” stated Scott Benzie, director of Digital First Canada, in an announcement.

“But the voices of creators and their communities will not be ignored. We aren’t going anywhere _ and this government and legacy media are just going to have to get used to it.”

1:13Liberals suggest new Canadian Broadcast Act guidelines for on-line streaming platforms

The invoice is awaiting a remaining vote within the House of Commons, however authorities House chief Mark Holland suspects it’ll move with the Senate’s help regardless of the rejected amendments.

It’s additionally anticipated the Liberals will strike down a proposal that may have required corporations to confirm customers’ ages earlier than they entry sexually-explicit materials on-line.

“We’re dedicated to passing this legislation so I think you’ll see very broad support from the elected House on this legislation,” Holland stated Wednesday.

“We will have a fulsome response to the Senate’s amendments and I’m very confident that the Senate will accept our verdict.”

Senate amendments the federal government plans to simply accept embody the promotion of Indigenous languages and Black content material creators, and guaranteeing that funds collected from tech giants go towards selling range, fairness and inclusion.

Rodriguez additionally agrees with Sen. Paula Simons, who handed an modification to take away a clause within the invoice that she described as giving “extraordinary new powers to the government to make political decisions about things.”

The Senate launched that change after Ian Scott, the previous chair of Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, informed a committee that some provisions within the invoice did transfer the stability level “slightly closer to lessening the independence” of the regulator _ although he insisted that it could stay impartial.

If handed, the CRTC shall be tasked with imposing the invoice’s provisions.

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