SoVote

Mrs. Julie Vignola (Beauport—Limoilou, BQ)

May/11/22 6:26:45 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-11

Madam Speaker, I remember the discussions we had about Bill C‑10 during the previous Parliament, especially with respect to potential breaches of freedom of expression and concerns about social media users being taxed. These same concerns are being raised again, even though the summary, clause 2 and clause 4.1 clearly state that users will not be taxed and even though there are no clauses that restrict freedom of expression. I now want to talk about access to culture. It is not right that it is easier for francophones to access Korean content than it is to access media in their first language on some sites. Out of curiosity, I watched a few of the Korean offerings suggested to me and I enjoyed the production, set design and costume quality. Bill C‑11 will ensure that francophones have access to content that is just as good a quality in their language and will ensure that non-francophones can do what I did and watch content that is made in Quebec and in Canada. Curiosity is something to be developed. If we want to encourage curiosity and interest, we need to make it easier to access good-quality content, and that is what Bill C‑11 will do. Some members will tell me that people who want access to francophone culture just need to seek it out like I did, but that is a troubling thought. Why should I have to go looking for expressions of my culture when others never have to look at all to have access to expressions of their own culture? Are those who might say such a thing really telling me that the only good culture is culture that is readily accessible, or in other words, American culture? Could it be that they have no problem with the fact that they have no access to content about their own culture, Canadian content? Could it be that they think Canadian culture and American culture are similar? I can almost hear those same individuals telling me that those two cultures are not one and the same. In that case, why would they not want more people to have easier access to Canadian culture? Why would they not want francophones and francophiles from Quebec, Canada and elsewhere in the world to have access to Quebec and francophone content just as as easily as they do to American or anglophone cultural content? Bill C‑11 will allow online streamers to broadcast culture and improve access to the cultures present in Canada. To sum up, for anyone who cares about their own culture, Bill C‑11 is a good bill that deserves to move through the legislative process in good faith on all sides. It deserves it because we should never have to let our culture be managed by a foreign culture.

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All Topics

Context: House Hansard - 69 - May/11/22

Mr. Francesco Sorbara

May/11/22 9:59:19 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-11

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Beauport—Limoilou for the question. Discoverability in reference to language minorities across Canada, and how that situation may prevail, is something that I find very important. Enhancing accessibility to French-speaking programs across the country is also very important, in my humble opinion.

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Context: House Hansard - 69 - May/11/22

Mr. Glen Motz

May/11/22 11:18:17 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-11

Madam Speaker, I agree that the language is inadequate currently. I am not on the heritage committee and do not propose to understand exactly what the right language would be, but it is certainly something that we would be looking at improving to ensure that the language is adjusted to reflect that issue.

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