A Quick Reminder About What Bill C-11 Will Actually Do

Countering misleading claims from Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez can be a full-time job.

Bill C-11, the online streaming bill that could become law as soon as next week. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who has played fast and loose with the truth about the bill for months, is concluding the bill’s Parliamentary journey with widely misleading information about its impact that must be called out.

Michael Geist @mgeist

This tweet from Heritage Minister @pablorodriguez comes as the government hopes to wrap up Bill C-11 and its rejection of the Senate fix to user content regulation. Hard to overstate how misleading it is, but I’ll try. There are 5 claims to unpack: 1/7

Pablo Rodriguez @pablorodriguez

While the Conservative Party continues to stand up for tech giants and spread false information about Bill C-11, we will continue supporting our artists, creators, and our culture. A quick reminder about what #C11 will ACTUALLY do ⬇️ https://t.co/q6TFUFdSqn

Michael Geist @mgeist

Bill C-11 Claim 1: “platforms pay their fair share” Reality: Platforms already are among the biggest investors in Canadian film/TV production. The problem is Cancon rules treat films like Turning Red or Jusqua’au as non-Canadian based on ownership. 2/7

Michael Geist @mgeist

The actual data that Bill C-11 supporters try to ignore: Record breaking film and TV production last year in Ontario with domestic production growing far faster than foreign productions. https://t.co/V4sNnB1CON

Michael Geist @mgeist

Bill C-11 Claim 2: “support next generation of Canadian artists" Reality: The bill may hurt new Canadian artists the most. Many are successful digital creators who risk being harmed by CRTC regulation. Even the Senate was convinced of problem. 3/7

michaelgeist.caCutting Through the Noise of the Bill C-11 Debate: Regulating User Content Remains a Reality - Michael GeistThe debate on Senate amendments to Bill C-11 continued in the House of Commons yesterday, with hours devoted to MPs from all parties claiming misinformation by their counterparts. There were no shortage of head-shaking moments: MPs that still don’t know that CraveTV is not a foreign streaming servic…

Michael Geist @mgeist

Bill C-11 Claim 3: “create good jobs for Canadians in the cultural sector" Reality: The sector has enjoyed huge success in recent years. The largest entertainment workers union told committee streamers/studios are the largest employer in the sector. 4/7

Michael Geist @mgeist

.@IATSECANADA, largest entertainment industry union, busts some film/TV production in Canada myths: ✅Cancon not solely about Canadian stories ✅Global streamers/studios 2nd largest source of funding for Canadian owned content production + largest employer https://t.co/EJsHHRcgX2 https://t.co/K8varPhvo7

Michael Geist @mgeist

Bill C-11 Claim 4: Lift up indigenous and diverse voices to tell their stories. Reality: Indigenous creators left a meeting with @pablorodriguez staff feeling gaslit and disrespected. Their concerns with Bill C-11 were dismissed. 5/7

thestar.com‘I felt gaslit’: Indigenous TikTok creator says federal officials were disrespectful in ‘tense’ meetingTikTok creators recently accused federal officials of intimidation and invalidating their concerns over the Ottawa’s online streaming bill, illustrating the tense battles between tech platforms and government that have plagued the proposed legislation even into its final stages.

Michael Geist @mgeist

Bill C-11 Claim 5: "More options for Canadians to watch" Reality: The bill risks the exact opposite. Higher regulatory costs and Cancon demands means that many niche streaming services from around the world may block Canada. Less consumer choice. 6/7

michaelgeist.caThe Bill C-11 Hearings Are Back, Part Three: The Risks of Higher Consumer Costs, Less Competition, and Little New Money for Film Production…The first two posts of this series on Bill C-11 focused on the risks to user content and Canadian creators. This post picks up on the implications of the bill for consumer costs and choice. In short, at a time when political parties are focused on affordability and inflation, the Bill C-11 effect is…

Michael Geist @mgeist

So what’s the reality? Experts, the Senate, former CRTC chair all agree Bill C-11 still includes the potential to regulate user content. The Senate proposed a fix. @pablorodriguez rejected it. Why? Because retaining the power to regulate *is* the goal. 7/7

michaelgeist.caGovernment Rejection of Key Senate Bill C-11 Amendment Reveals Its True Intent: Retain Power to Regulate User Content - Michael GeistFor more than a year, Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has clung to the Bill C-11 mantra of “platforms in, users out”. When presented with clear evidence from thousands of digital creators, the former chair of the CRTC, and numerous experts that that wasn’t true, the Senate passed compromi…