Newsletter: August 4, 2021

Weekly News (August 4th, 2021)

Compiled by Emmanuel Appiah, Meaghan Wester, and Nick Gertlerwith Sara Bannerman, Fenwick McKelvey, Guillaume Dandurand, Marek Blottière, and Kevin Morin

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

The Communications Governance Discussion Group meets every few weeks by Zoom.  Email organizer Derek Hrynyshyn <derekh@yorku.ca> for details.

 

(July 27 – August 3, 2021) 

 

Canadian News  

• [COPYRIGHT] Access Copyright v. York University: Supreme Court Decision Preserves Quebec Model of Collective Management (Financial Post; Similar story with the Toronto Star) (McMaster; York) 
• [PATENT] Rockies LNG slams rival’s ‘imaginary’ plans in patent dispute (Globe and Mail) (McMaster; York) 
• [BROADCASTING POLICY] Québecor déboutée en Cour d’appel fédérale (Le Devoir) 
• [DEFAMATION/ANTI-SLAPP] Defamation lawsuit against commentator Kinsella should go ahead, Bernier argues (Toronto Star) (McMaster; York) 
• [HATE SPEECH] New hate bill allows closed hearings; Critics raise charter concerns (National Post) (McMaster; York) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Ottawa plans new regulatory framework for online platforms  (Toronto Star) (McMaster; York) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] Québecor assure viser l’expansion, pas la spéculation (La Presse) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Haine en ligne: Ottawa promet de forcer les réseaux sociaux à agir (Le Devoir) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Opinion: Brousseau Pouillot: Enfin, un shérif dans le Far Web ! (La Presse) 
• [ANTICOMPETITION] Shaw discussed network-sharing deal with Quebecor before agreeing to Rogers takeover, court documents reveal (Globe and Mail) (McMaster; York) 
• [TRADEMARK] Montreal investment fund sued over use of founder’s great-great-grandfather’s name (Globe and Mail)  (McMaster; York) 
• [FACIAL RECOGNITION] OPINION: Gio & Bhatia:   
  Reports find that the federal government again used surveillance at Pearson airport, this time through facial recognition. This threatens our human rights (Toronto Star) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY] Inquiétudes pour la vie privée sur le portail de la loterie vaccinale (Le Devoir) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] 5-year wait for access to info request (National Post) (McMaster; York) 
• [NEWS CONTENT/PLATFORM REGULATION] Facebook partners with Globe, other outlets to pay for content (Globe and Mail) (McMaster; York) 
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] Des experts craignent une hausse des prix dans le sans-fil canadien (Le Devoir) 
• [TELECOM REGULATION] Canadian spectrum auction raises $8.9-billion as telecoms grow 5G wireless services (Globe and Mail) (McMaster; York) 

 

International News 

• [TRADEMARK] Lindt chocolate maker sees German federal court side with it in Gold Bunny battle (Chicago Sun Times) (McMaster; York) 
• [FACIAL RECOGNITION] Facial recognition industry is put on notice in China (Washington Post) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY] Zoom Agrees to Settle Lawsuit Over ‘Zoombombing’ (New York Times) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY/DATA LOCALIZATION] Russia fines Google for violating data storage law (Associated Press News)  (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY/HATE SPEECH LAW] Google takes legal action over germany’s expanded hate-speech law (Reuters) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY] E.U. regulator hits Amazon with record $887 million fine for data protection violations (Washington Post) (McMaster; York) 
• [ACCESS TO INFO/PRIVACY] Facing Census delay, group withdraws request for records(Associated Press News) (McMaster; York) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] First person tried under Hong Kong security law found guilty (Associated Press News) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY] New bill would update decades-old law governing children’s privacy online, add protections for teens (Washington Post) (McMaster; York) 
• [PRIVACY] GOP Bill Attempts to Inject Life Into Stalled Internet Privacy Talks (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York) 
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Big Apple Takes Bite Out of Food Delivery (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] GAO Issues Framework to Keep Federal AI Systems Accountable (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York) 
• [TECH REGULATION] China presses on with crackdown on tech companies (Bloomberg News)  (McMaster; York) 
• [ANTITRUST] Why Turkey’s Regulators Have an Issue With Google (New York Times) (McMaster; York) 
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Thai media restrictions raise freedom of expression concerns  (Canadian Press via ABC News) (McMaster; York) 
• [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] Biden to Tap Artificial Intelligence Expert as Top Business Diplomat (Wall Street Journal) (McMaster; York) 
• [TELECOM/NATIONAL SECURITY] U.S. senators urge barring Huawei, ZTE from $1.9 trillion gov’t funding measure (Reuters)  

(July 27 – August 3, 2021) 

Supreme Court of Canada 

• The Supreme Court of Canada today filed with the Registrar the judgment in the following appeal 
•  [COPYRIGHT]  York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright) – 2021 SCC 32 

 

Federal Court of Appeal 

• [PATENT] Pfizer Canada ULC v. Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLC – 2021 FCA 155 – 2021-07-28 
• [PATENT] Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLC v. Pfizer Canada ULC – 2021 FCA 154 – 2021-07-28 
• [BROADCAST] TVA Group Inc. v. Bell Canada – 2021 FCA 153 – 2021-07-28 
• [PATENT] Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General) – 2021 FCA 157 – 2021-07-29 

 

Canadian Heritage 

• Engaging Canadians on Fair Revenue Sharing Between Digital Platforms and News Media 
• Creating a Safe, Inclusive and Open Online Environment 
• Media Technical Briefing on a Proposed Approach to Combat Harmful Content Online 

 

Innovation, Science, & Economic Development 

• Government of Canada provides update on reducing prices for wireless services 
• 3500 MHz auction supports more competition, better coverage and faster deployment of 5G technologies for Canadians 
• 3500 MHz auction – Process and results 

 

National Film Board 

• NFB releases highlights for 2020–2021. Results from the past year in creation, diversity and inclusion, gender parity, Indigenous works and distribution

 

Copyright Board Canada 

• Approved Tariffs – CBRA Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff (2020-2022) & CBRA Non-Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff (2020-2022) by July 31, 2021 

Facebook 

• Giving Young People a Safer, More Private Experience on Instagram 

CRTC 

News Releases: 

• Telecom order 2021-249 
  [2021-08-02 11:00:00] 
  Saskatchewan Telecommunications – Revisions to General Tariff – Basic Services – Public record: Tariff Notice 371 
• Broadcasting decision 2021-248 
  [2021-08-02 11:00:00] 
  APPROVED – Muskoday Community Radio Corporation – Muskoday, Saskatchewan – Application for a new broadcasting licence to operate a low-power English- and Cree-language Indigenous radio station in Muskoday 
• Broadcasting decision 2021-247 
  [2021-08-02 11:00:00] 
  APPROVED – Acadia Broadcasting Corporation – Various locations across Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – Application for authority to acquire the assets of all the licensed broadcasting undertakings owned by Acadia Broadcasting Limited 
• Telecom order 2021-246 
  [2021-07-30 11:00:00] 
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Shaw Cablesystems G.P., TN 39 
• Telecom notice of consultation 2021-245 
  [2021-07-30 11:00:00] 
  Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area codes 226, 519, and 548 in southwestern Ontario – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08 
• Telecom notice of consultation 2021-244 
  [2021-07-30 11:00:00] 
  Establishment of a CISC ad hoc committee for relief planning for area codes 236, 250, 604, 672 and 778 in British Columbia – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08 
• Broadcasting decision 2021-243 
  [2021-07-30 11:00:00] 
  APPROVED – Radio Ntetemuk inc. – Pessamit, Quebec – Application for a new broadcasting licence to operate an Innu-, French- and English-language Indigenous (Type B Native) FM radio station in Pessamit (formerly, Betsiamites), Quebec 
• Telecom order 2021-242 
  [2021-07-30 11:00:00] 
  Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for Tough Country Communications Ltd.’s British Columbia transport fibre project – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0191 
• Telecom order 2021-241 
  [2021-07-27 11:00:00] 
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada, TN 7632 
• Telecom order 2021-240 
  [2021-07-27 11:00:00] 
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff applications: Bell Canada, TN 965 and TN 7631 
• Telecom regulatory policy 2021-239 
  [2021-07-27 11:00:00] 
  Access to in-building wire in multi-dwelling units – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0420 

Supreme Court of Canada 

• The Supreme Court of Canada announced today that judgment in the following leave applications will be delivered at 9:45 a.m. EDT on Thursday, August 5, 2021. This list is subject to change. 
•  [PUBLICATION BAN]  Minassian Family v. Postmedia Network Inc., et al. (Ont.) (Civil) (By Leave) (38866) 

Senate of Canada  

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The Senate is not sitting today.    

Canadian House of Commons  

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week, with possible extension of sitting hours: The House of Commons is not sitting today. The House is adjourned until Monday, September 20, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT).  

CRTC   

Open Proceedings  

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings  
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings  

Regulatory Policies  

Broadcasting   

• 2021-215 - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0124 and 1011-NOC2021-069  

Telecommunications  

• 2021-215 - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0124 and 1011-NOC2021-069  

  

Anticipated releases for the week of August 2, 2021  

The CRTC plans to issue the following decisions and/or regulatory policies in the coming week. This list may be incomplete and is subject to change without notice.  
  

Broadcasting   

• Muskoday Community Radio Corporation 
  Muskoday, Saskatchewan 
  Low-power Indigenous FM radio station in Muskoday 
  Public record: 2020-0583-4 
• Acadia Broadcasting Corporation 
  Various locations across Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia 
  Various radio programming undertakings – Acquisition of assets (corporate reorganization) 
  Public record: 2021-0087-4 
• Complaint by Quebecor, on behalf of Videotron, against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, alleging undue preference concerning the service Ici Tou.tv Extra 
  Public record: 2019-1113-1 

 

Telecommunications  

• Mitel Networks Corporation – Application requesting the Commission to instruct the Canadian Secure Token Governance Authority to allow all telecommunications service providers to receive a STIR/SHAKEN certificate 
  Public record: 8638-M75-202008953 
• CISC Network Working Group Consensus Report – Canadian traceback trial report 
  Public record: 8621-C12-01/08 

 

 Public Hearings  

• To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-218 (View hearing documents (2021-218) (September 9, 2021)  

 

Open Public Consultations:  

• Access to Information Review Public Engagement: Reviewing access to information –https://atiareview.ca (March 31, 2021-July 31, 2021) 
• Innovation, Science, and Economic Development – Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 155, Number 27: Rules Amending the Patent Rules (July 3 – August 2, 2021) 
• Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission: Call for comments – Introduction of a three-digit abbreviated dialing code for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services (June 3- Sept 1, 2021) 
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: Consultation on a Modern Copyright Framework for AI and IoT (July 16-September 16, 2021)