“We need rules for social media because it harms young people. Quebec studied this and recommended banning social media for kids 14 and under, but this bill bans it for kids 16 and under. I want to know if the government will respect Quebec's authority over protecting youth and read Quebec's report.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois definitely believes that social media needs to be regulated. It is a new sector, and we are already seeing serious harms emerge. Most recently, in August, Meta agreed to a settlement and paid $16 billion in compensation for the harm caused to young people. Quebec has already undertaken a collective review with the aim of protecting our young people from screen time, and it has made significant progress in that endeavour. The Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People’s Health and Development tabled a report recommending a ban on social media for children aged 14 and under, rather than 16 and under, as proposed in Bill C-34. My question for my colleague is this: Will the government respect Quebec’s jurisdiction over youth protection? Has the report been consulted and has the question been asked—”

“We need rules to keep children safe online. But this bill creates a new safety group, and we do not know its powers or what platforms it will watch. I want to know what my colleague thinks about the government asking us to pass a bill without these basic details.”

“Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague on her speech. I believe we share the same point of view on the need to regulate digital safety, particularly for children. I would like to hear her thoughts on the new digital safety commission that will be established. We do not know the parameters or what powers it will have. We also do not know which platforms it will regulate. Does my colleague not think that the government is doing things a bit backwards? As legislators, we are being asked to pass a bill, but we do not have a full understanding of the parameters involved.”

“Protecting young people is the job of Quebec and the provinces, not the federal government. This bill needs to respect that. I want to know if the member agrees that the federal government must work with the provinces on this.”

“Mr. Speaker, the issue of jurisdiction absolutely must be addressed in the bill. Matters relating to social protection and the protection of youth fall under Quebec and provincial jurisdiction. I would like to ask my colleague whether she agrees that the federal government should work in collaboration with Quebec and the provinces. Once the bill is passed, they are the ones who will be responsible for intervening directly in an area that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.”