Repeal C-11 and C-18

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government to repeal C-11 and C-18, hold public consultations, and ensure regulations protect free expression and competitive digital platforms. The government responds that the Acts protect Charter rights and are being implemented.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada Freedom of expression and access to information online are fundamental rights in Canada; Bills C-11 and C-18 have created uncertainty for digital creators, independent media, and small businesses; These Acts may limit the visibility of user-generated content and reduce access to Canadian news on major online platforms; and Many Canadians are concerned about the impact of these laws on free expression, innovation, and access to information; We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1. Repeal Bills C-11 and C-18 in their entirety; 2. Conduct broad public consultations with creators, users, journalists, technologists, and digital rights experts before introducing any future legislation affecting online platforms or access to news; and 3. Ensure that future regulations protect freedom of expression and maintain open, competitive digital environments for all Canadians. 1. Repeal Bills C-11 and C-18 in their entirety; 2. Conduct broad public consultations with creators, users, journalists, technologists, and digital rights experts before introducing any future legislation affecting online platforms or access to news; and 3. Ensure that future regulations protect freedom of expression and maintain open, competitive digital environments for all Canadians.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by The Honourable Marc Miller The Government would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their concerns regarding issues of freedom of expression and digital competition. Canadians’ rights and freedoms under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are of paramount importance. Freedom of expression is already safeguarded in section 2(3) of the Broadcasting Act. The Act is about promoting cultural expressions, not inhibiting them. The Broadcasting Act ensures that Canadian cultural expressions are fostered and promoted. Likewise, the Online Streaming Act and the Online News Act do not infringe on any rights or freedoms guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Broadcasting Act needs to reflect today’s digital reality. Canadian broadcasters and streaming services should play by the same rules. The Online Streaming Act ensures that streaming services showcase Canadian music and stories, as well as support our creators and producers. The Online Streaming Act does not curtail the ability of users to create online communities and to share information, ideas, and personal messages. It does not control what Canadians can or cannot see online. Canadians will always have full choice over what they listen to and watch. It has never been more apparent that quality news is an essential component of a reliable and trustworthy information ecosystem. Moreover, access to independent, reliable, pluralistic news sources and media is integral to full democratic participation. The Online News Act was introduced in response to structural shifts in digital advertising that have disproportionately benefited large platforms and eroded the revenue base of news organizations. To address this imbalance, the Act establishes a framework requiring dominant digital platforms to negotiate fair commercial agreements with news businesses for the use of their content, thereby supporting the long-term sustainability of Canadian journalism. The Online News Act catalyzed Google’s agreement to pay $100 million per year over five years to support journalism in Canada. News businesses representing a broad cross-section of Canadian news outlets and a wide range of editorial perspectives have already received their first year of funding and disbursement of second year funding is underway. The Government continues to actively monitor the implementation of the Online News Act and developments within the broader journalism industry and is committed to fostering a vibrant and reliable Canadian journalism sector. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is the independent public authority responsible for the regulation and supervision of the Canadian broadcasting system. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is executing a multi-year regulatory plan and publishes a list that tracks consultations and hearings over the last few years. During the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has held several public consultations and hearings and received numerous submissions from a wide range of stakeholders.