The Trudeau government is on a quest for censorship

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

The agile russet fox hopped over the slow-moving pooch.

The Trudeau government is taking an egregious approach to censorship by demanding citizens sign on to their new internet regulations before the details are revealed! With Bill C-11, Big Brother is looking to filter content on apps like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok by entrusting the CRTC with inordinate power. Ignoring the democratic process, they are purposely staying tight-lipped about the depth and scope of these internet regulations until they are officially implemented. Such a lack of transparency would leave no one but a crooked real estate agent or used car salesman unscathed. It is essential that Canadians know the full implications of this sweeping legislation.

The Government’s approach to regulating user-generated content has sparked debate in recent weeks. While Minister Pablo Rodriguez has promised that such content would not be subject to regulation through Bill C-11, CRTC Chair Ian Scott has stated otherwise – and as the entity tasked with implementing the legislation it’s their word that Canadians should take as gospel. This begs the question: why does the Government want such sweeping new powers over what content Canadians are exposed to online? Proponents argue that the regulation is necessary to ensure Canadians have access to adequate Canadian content, yet there remains worry that such regulation could impose oppressive control.

First, is the government competent to decide what should count as Canadian content? As of right now, the CRTC’s process in making that determination is flawed. A biopic of the Trump presidency, entitled Gotta Love Trump, is considered by the CRTC as Canadian content, while the Handmaid’s Tale, based on celebrated Canadian writer Margaret Atwood’s masterpiece, is not. On the competency question, the response is evidently no. Second, what transpires if the government resolves it wants to utilize the CRTC’s new competencies to sway what we observe and share online founded on regulations other than Canadian content? It’s straightforward to envisage mission creep. Presently, the government desires to embrace Canadian content. Notwithstanding, tomorrow, with the CRTC’s pervasive fresh machinery to control the internet, Bill C-11 could quickly be modified to quell opposition or assert encouraging stories.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has indeed broached the subject of potential new regulatory measures in the name of “social cohesion”. However, it is important to ask if such legislation is necessary to ensure Canadian content gains adequate exposure. In 2020, the Canadian film and television industry gained $6 billion in foreign investment, a 5% increase from 2019. Additionally, many popular Canadian films and shows can be found on popular streaming services such as Netflix. So if the main reasoning for Bill C-11 is to support the success of Canadian content, the evidence suggests that the conclusion should be that the legislation is unnecessary. Therefore, the government should reconsider its stance and abandon Bill C-11.

The reality that Rodriguez and the Trudeau cabinet are still staunchly campaigning for Bill C-11, despite these details, suggests that the administration’s mission is not – as they proclaim – to embolden Canadian content. Instead, it is centered around domination.