LawBytes Podcast – Episode 38 was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the latest audio-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors. Sonix is the best way to convert your audio to text in 2020.
Michael Geist:
This is Law Bytes, a podcast with Michael Geist.
Evan Solomon:
There is a concern that the panel wants to regulate international companies as well. So let me take an example of a controversial site like Breitbart. How would the government force a company like Breitbart? I don’t know. The New York Times, Mother Jones, The Daily Mail. How would they force those companies to comply with rules of Canadian content? Discoverability. And if they don’t comply, what happens? Will Canadians be blocked from accessing international sites?
Steven Guilbeault:
I don’t think that’s what’s recommended in the report that that these sites be blocked in Canada. I’m frankly not sure I see what the big deal is.
Evan Solomon:
So you said no to licence, and now you’re saying no to registration as well. Just so people know there’s a licence element. But it recommends that media content companies, all of themL websites, broadcasters, anyone that produces media content that’s in the report has to register and they’re subject to levies. Are you saying there’s no registration?
Steven Guilbeault:
That’s a recommendation by this panel. In terms of what the bill will contain what we will ask the Netflix and Amazon Prime and Disneys of this world to contribute to in terms of Canadian cultural content, content and what tools, will we use. I can’t answer that because I seems like to me.
Evan Solomon:
On Sunday on CTV’s Question Period, and you said, yeah, we’re gonna license media companies and organizations, will be licensed. That’s no big deal. What were you actually meaning.
Steven Guilbeault:
What I’m saying is that the regulations that we will have will apply to companies that are operating in Canada just like our laws and regulations apply to any company’s.
Michael Geist:
The release of the much anticipated broadcasting and telecommunications legislative review panel report late last month sparked a torrent of discussion and debate. The 235 page report, often referred to as the BTLR or Yale report, features 97 recommendations that covers telecom, broadcast, the future of the CBC, online harms, digital taxation, and a myriad of other issues. The report almost immediately hit the political spotlight since, as you just heard, Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault initially downplayed recommendations to regulate the delivery of online news and attempted to walk back some of his comments.
Michael Geist:
I’ve been posting frequently on the report and its implications at my Web site at MichaelGeist.ca. I’m very grateful that Janet Yale, the panel chair, agreed to meet and come on the podcast. Janet has been a leader in the communications law field in Canada for many years, having worked at Telus, the Canadian Cable Television Association, the CRTC and the Consumers Association of Canada. Our wide ranging conversation touches on the policy objectives of the panel, the news regulation concerns, net neutrality, consumer costs, and a host of other issues.
Michael Geist:
Janet, thanks so much for joining me on the podcast.
Janet Yale:
It’s a pleasure to be here.
Michael Geist:
OK. It’s really good of you to come on. As you know, I’ve got a lot to say. Got all of it positive about some of the report. And so to have you come on and talk about it. I think it is really fantastic. There has been a lot already and we’re recording this on on Tuesday, February the 4th. There’s been already a lot discussed. It’s come up in the House of Commons. I’ve got a bunch of issues I wanted to talk about respect to content, a little bit on process as well. But given that so much of the focus right now is on content, that’s where. And content recommendations, that’s what we’ll focus. I wanted to start, though, by giving you an opportunity to identify for those that are new to this a bit more about the panel and what it recommended.
Janet Yale:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to set the stage for the conversation. I know the content issues are of great interest to people, but I think
