This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Madam Speaker, Aside · 35 wordsI was surprised to hear the member for Winnipeg North essentially deliver two speeches. First, he gave a 20-minute speech, 1and then he basically gave another one in response to the questions he was asked.AsideOff point Positioning · 54 wordsBefore I get started on today’s completely ridiculous opposition motion—and let me be clear, by “opposition”, I mean the Conservative opposition—I want to point out that we in the Bloc Québécois would never have launched such an attack on one of the tools we have to defend Quebec culture and, yes, even Canadian culture.Positioning Claims · 262 wordsBefore I begin to discuss the Conservatives’ ridiculous stubbornness in attacking anything that could possibly help our culture survive and even thrive in the new global digital environment, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the contribution of the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, not in his capacity as environment minister, as members did yesterday, but in his capacity as heritage minister. He and I both won our seats in the 2019 election and, like everyone else, I figured he would immediately be given the environment portfolio because of his long-time passion and activism.2 What a surprise it was when the then prime minister put him in charge of Canadian Heritage. I am sure a lot of people—himself included—thought that was not his dream job, but I do admire how seriously he took it. During his time at the department, he made it clear that culture truly mattered to him.Off point In fact, he was the one who introduced the first version of the bill to modernize the Broadcasting Act, Bill C‑10 at the time, 3which died on the Order Paper when an election was called the following year after weeks and months of excruciating Conservative filibustering.4 Bill C‑10 became Bill C‑11 in the 44th Parliament, 5and again, against all odds and despite all the Conservatives’ stalling tactics, we ended up passing the bill in 2022.6 That means it is partly the political legacy of the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie that we are defending here, because the CRTC decision that this motion is challenging stems from that act, which he introduced in November 2020.7 Aside · 11 wordsHowever, I doubt that this is an argument for today’s cause.AsideOff point Thanks · 59 wordsStill, I too would like to commend the contribution of this member, one of the few parliamentarians to stand up for their deeply held convictions and stay true to them, so much so that he chose to leave politics rather than swallow his frustration at his government’s decisions and its lack of commitment to the environment and climate change.Thanks Positioning · 23 wordsI hope that this government and this Prime Minister will not cause the current Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture the same disappointment.PositioningOff point Procedure · 16 wordsLet us get back to the Conservatives’ motion, because we have to. We have no choice.Procedure Claims · 57 wordsBasically, what this motion is saying is that if people want to watch American shows, even if it means that Quebec and Canadian shows disappear, that is just fine. It is fine for American streaming giants to come here and make millions, if not billions, of dollars in Quebec and Canada without contributing to our broadcasting system. Positioning · 28 wordsThey think that is fine. Come to think of it, it would also be fine if there was no longer a Canadian and Quebec broadcasting system at all.Positioning Anecdote · 32 wordsRobert Charlebois, a great Quebec singer whom most of my Conservative colleagues have probably never heard of, used to sing that living in this country is like living in the United States.8Anecdote Claims · 41 wordsThe Conservative motion talks about the contribution that they are calling the Netflix tax, a commitment by American giants to use part of their revenues to ensure that original Canadian and Quebec productions are made, both in English and in French. Positioning · 52 wordsGiven a choice between protecting Quebec and Canadian culture and artists and defending Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, the choice is clear for the Conservatives, and that is most unfortunate. I cannot believe that some Quebec Conservatives, whom I hold in high regard, are endorsing such a motion. It is embarrassing.Positioning Claims · 57 wordsOur artists are barely able to fund their work and our producers are struggling and being forced to trim not only the fat, but also the muscle, while American multinationals are making billions of dollars at their expense.9 The CRTC’s decision did not fix everything, far from it, but it is more than just a step forward. Reasoning · 53 wordsIt is a necessary step if we want to be able to stand up to the cultural tsunami that is being unleashed by the web giants. Forcing them to increase their contribution to original content is not a penalty or a tax. It is about catching up. It is a matter of fairness. Claims · 27 wordsOur traditional broadcasters have always had clear obligations: fund local content, promote the French language and support the next generation. Only digital platforms are exempt from that.10 Reasoning · 13 wordsAlthough this measure is necessary, it is not sufficient in and of itself. The ask · 45 wordsFirst, we need to ensure that the money collected is actually used to support the creation of Quebec content, particularly French-language content. Quebec must receive its fair share. Most importantly, Quebec needs to be able to decide for itself how the investments will be used, Procedure · 8 wordsbut I will come back to that later.Procedure The ask · 23 wordsSecond, we must also guarantee that this contribution is not limited to funding. Quebec content, French-language content and Canadian content must be discoverable. Claims · 18 wordsAs anyone who has seen The Glass House on Prime Video can attest, our TV shows are outstanding.11 The ask · 32 wordsThey must be available and they must be given a chance to be successful. I would add that they must also be given a chance to be aired by the licensed broadcasters, Claims · 15 wordswhich have been contributing to the system for decades.These broadcasters are once again being harmed. The ask · 16 wordsThey must be able to afford to broadcast our TV shows, our original content, our stories. Reasoning · 9 wordsLastly, it is important to beware of unintended consequences. The ask · 21 wordsWe also do not want the platforms to pass on this increase to Quebec consumers in the form of price hikes. Claims · 26 wordsOnce again, the public should not pay the price for the government’s past inaction or for making contributions to original Quebec and Canadian productions more fair. Promise · 34 wordsThe Bloc Québécois will continue to fight to ensure that every dollar contributed by the streaming platforms is used to strengthen our cultural identity, protect our language and support and develop Quebec’s unique creativity.Vague promise Claims · 53 wordsThat is why, today, we are reaffirming our clear and consistent stance that Quebec should have its own communications regulator, a CRTC that is just for Quebec. The current CRTC makes decisions that profoundly affect Quebec culture, but it does so within a Canadian framework where Quebec is just one minority among many. Reasoning · 40 wordsEven with the best of intentions, this structure cannot fully reflect Quebec’s reality. It cannot give francophones the weight they deserve. It cannot prioritize our creators the way we would. It cannot fully grasp the complexity of our cultural ecosystem. Claims · 17 wordsThe result is that, all too often, CRTC decisions dilute Quebec’s unique characteristics with a one-size-fits-all approach. Reasoning · 70 wordsA Quebec CRTC would be better at defending our culture. It would allow us to adopt rules tailored to our market. It would allow us to impose clear requirements for French-language content. It would allow us to provide greater support for our emerging artists. It would ensure that local content is truly discoverable. It is not enough simply to produce content; that content must also be seen, heard and discovered. Claims · 38 wordsThese days, the major platforms have algorithms that overwhelmingly favour dominant content, much of it in English and too much of it foreign. Our content is in there somewhere, but it is often invisible and hard to find. Reasoning · 24 wordsIf Quebec had its own CRTC, it could implement concrete measures, such as spotlighting Quebec content, adapting quotas, mandating promotion and requiring algorithmic transparency. Aside · 7 wordsThe Conservatives do not like that word, AsideReasoning · 13 wordsbut it would not be a burdensome requirement; it would be a lifeline. Procedure · 8 wordsLet me go back to the CRTC decision.Procedure Claims · 9 wordsWe do support that measure, but with clear conditions. The ask · 73 wordsFirst, the proceeds must truly benefit Quebec, not in theory or in some watered-down way, but concretely. The funds must not be folded into bigger federal programs that force Quebec culture to compete with vastly different contexts. Quebec must get its share, and it must be able to decide how to use the funds. Second, these contributions must be used to strengthen French-language content, not just to fund Canadian content as a whole. Reasoning · 7 wordsThe language issue is crucial to Quebec. Claims · 11 wordsWithout decisive intervention, the presence and influence of French will decline. The ask · 13 wordsThird, no matter what, the cost must not be passed on to consumers. Claims · 56 wordsWe know full well how the web giants operate.Unearned certainty When they are forced to meet new obligations, they either challenge them in court or try to pass on the cost to users. The Bloc Québécois is opposed to forcing Quebeckers to offset the web giants’ contribution costs. These companies are making a profit from the market. Reasoning · 34 wordsThey have to contribute. If we want future generations to be able to keep living, creating and dreaming in French, we need to take concrete action, even if it seems draconian to some people. Claims · 9 wordsIncreasing the streaming services’ contribution is only one step. Positioning · 15 wordsThe Conservatives want to stop our cultural content from flourishing in the new digital environment.Positioning The ask · 7 wordsThe Liberals must not follow their example. Positioning · 44 wordsIt would be a real shame if the new Prime Minister and the new Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture did to culture what they have done to the environment, in other words, if they completely destroy the legacy of the member for Laurier—Sainte‑Marie.PositioningOff point
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