Discussion · Government Orders
Elizabeth May Green
“The proposed commission might not be truly independent since the government picks and pays the commissioner. But the bigger problem is that this bill does not punish social media companies harshly enough when they fail to protect children.”
“Mr. Speaker, the idea of the commission is not a bad one, but it is still very vague. There is also the issue of independence. The commissioner will be chosen by the government or the minister of the day, draw a government salary and implement the government’s policies. It is therefore not entirely clear that the commissioner will remain fully independent. However, that is not the main problem. In my view, the problem is that we have an extremely important duty to protect Canada’s children and youth. It should be with the possibility that if they violate that duty to protect our children, they are going to suffer consequences so severe that they are highly motivated to ensure that their conduct avoids harm to children.”
Mr. Speaker, the idea of the commission is not a bad one, but it is still very vague. There is also the issue of independence. The commissioner will be chosen by the government or the minister of the day, draw a government salary and implement the government’s policies. It is therefore not entirely clear that the commissioner will remain fully independent. However, that is not the main problem. In my view, the problem is that we have an extremely important duty to protect Canada’s children and youth. It should be with the possibility that if they violate that duty to protect our children, they are going to suffer consequences so severe that they are highly motivated to ensure that their conduct avoids harm to children.