Hon. Fabian Manning: Honourable senators, I rise today to propose an amendment to Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. This bill has been amended at committee, but I still think there is plenty of room for improvement.

An Hon. Senator: Hear, hear.

Senator Richards: Yes.

Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Would Senator Manning accept a question?

Senator Manning: Yes.

Senator Simons: I will.

The Hon. the Speaker: In my opinion, the “nays” have it.

And two honourable senators having risen:

The Hon. the Speaker: The vote will take place at 6:02 p.m. Call in the senators.

(1800)

Motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Manning negatived on the following division:

Hon. Leo Housakos: Would Senator Dawson take a question?

Senator Dawson: From you, always.

Some Hon. Senators: No.

An Hon. Senator: Thirty minutes.

The Hon. the Speaker: I see two senators rising. Do we have agreement on a bell?

Some Hon. Senators: Yea.

Senator Housakos: Would Senator Simons take a question?

Some Hon. Senators: Nay.

The Hon. the Speaker: Are senators ready for the question?

The Hon. the Speaker: All those opposed will please say “nay.”

Senator Miville-Dechêne: Let me start again. Unlike you, I don’t have absolute faith in the free market. Simply promoting a given song, for whatever reason, doesn’t mean it’s normal for that song to always top the others. I think the beauty of our Canadian cultural laws and regulations is that they showcase different Canadian cultural products.

This idea of putting forward a song, whether it’s American, British or Pakistani — I understand that you think that’s what works. You like the free market system. You are happy that the most popular ones are basically the only ones that get any play. However, that greatly reduces cultural diversity. Don’t forget that less than 5% of the songs that Quebecers listen to on Spotify are from Quebec artists. We got to that point because people can’t find these songs — they are tucked away at the back of the closet, as we say. Sometimes, young Quebecers should hear a song and say to themselves: “Oh, look at that! Here is a song by a Quebec artist. I should listen to it.” The idea behind this isn’t to force someone to listen to certain content, but to offer content. That’s the difference.

A system that suggests songs based on an algorithm has nothing to do with our cultural diversity or Canadian culture. It’s a commercial, for-profit system, and foreign companies are currently controlling our cultural consumption.

Hon. Brian Francis: My question is for the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, Senator Bellemare.

Senator Bellemare, could you give us an update on the work your committee has accomplished and intends to accomplish during the current session?

[Translation]

Hon. Raymonde Gagné (Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-13(2), I move:

That the Senate do now adjourn.