Weekly News (December 20, 2022)

Compiled by Brad McNeil, Kyle Wyndham-West, and Beatrice Sunderland, with Sara Bannerman  and Fenwick McKelvey

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

Canadian News 

Week of November 20-31

• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Prime Minister, federal ministers should not be exempt from access laws, former top public servant says (The Globe and Mail)
• [PRIVACY] Citizen Lab adds to chorus of criticism over Ottawa’s new data privacy bill (The Globe and Mail)
• [CULTURAL POLICY / RACIAL EQUITY DATA] Government announces Suzanne Guèvremont as new head of National Film Board of Canada (The Toronto Star)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS / COMPETITION POLICY] Competition watchdog pushes back on concerns Shaw has about its business (The Toronto Star)

Week of December 1-10

• [ELECTION MISINFORMATION] John Tory’s use of robocalls, lobbyist in Toronto election sparks anger (The Toronto Star)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Quebec class action alleging Fortnite is addictive will go ahead, judge rules (The Globe and Mail)
• [INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PROPERTY] Reconciliation in the private art world: How Taku River Tlingit brought home their robe (The Globe and Mail)
• [TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY] CRTC warns telecom companies not to add extra fees for customers who pay by credit card (The Globe and Mail) 
• [PRIVACY] Privacy of nearly 58,500 people breached in 2021 cyberattack on N.L. health care (Toronto Star) 
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Canada’s journalism community urges fix to federal freedom-of-information system (The Globe and Mail) 
• [Bill C-11/ONLINE STREAMING BILL] Senate makes key change to feds’ online streaming bill to keep YouTube videos out (The Globe and Mail) 

Week of December 11-20

• [BROADCAST POLICY/C-11] Le gouvernement recevra du Sénat une version modifiée de C-11 (Le Devoir)
• [ONLINE NEWS ACT/C-18] Facebook réitère sa menace de retirer les nouvelles (Le Devoir)
• [BROADCAST POLICY/C-11; ONLINE NEWS ACT/C-18] Concerns raised over heritage official steering flagship bills through Parliament (The Globe and Mail)
• [BROADCAST POLICY] Tout un camouflet pour le CRTC (La Presse)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Interdiction de TikTok au Canada: «On n’en est pas là», dit Champagne (Le Journal de Montréal)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Le gouvernement garde Twitter à l’œil (La Presse)
• [GOVERNMENT CONTRACT] Mendicino, Champagne to be questioned about RCMP contract with firm that has links to China (The National Post)
• [PRIVACY] Private medical records not properly protected in British Columbia, privacy watchdog warns (CTV News)
• [PRIVACY] Northwest Territories announces latest case of mishandled private health information (The Globe and Mail)
• [DIGITAL AUTHORITARIANISM] OPINION:MATTHEWS Confronting the growing digital threat to human rights and democracy (The Toronto Star)

International News

Week of November 20-30

• [FREEDOM OF SPEECH] Russia passes law banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ among adults (The Guardian)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Twitter reportedly disbands Brussels office, leading to compliance concern (The Guardian)

Week of December 1-10

• [ONLINE SAFETY BILL] Online safety bill will criminalise ‘downblousing’ and ‘deepfake’ porn (The Guardian)
• [CENSORSHIP] Apple under renewed scrutiny over its relationship with China (The Globe and Mail) 

Week of December 11-20

• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Tech critics urge Supreme Court to narrow Section 230 (The Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Senator seeks FTC probe of data sales to U.S. government agencies (The Washington Post)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Democrats up pressure on Facebook to keep Trump ban in place (The Washington Post)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Fortnite maker Epic Games to pay $520M to settle FTC cases (The Guardian)
• [BROADCAST REGULATION] Moldova suspends 6 TV channels over alleged misinformation (ABC News)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Brazil police serve search warrants over Bolsonaro protests (The Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Census Bureau tables controversial privacy tool for survey (US News)
• [PRIVACY & PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] Senate’s year-end children’s privacy push faces uphill climb (The Washington Post)

(Week of November 20- 31, 2022)

Senate of Canada

• TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS: Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts 

Canadian House of Commons 

• (ETHI): Access to Information, Privacy & Ethics
  • Report 7: DEVICE INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS USED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE AND RELATED ISSUES  

Canadian Heritage 

• Backgrounder: The Government of Canada makes historic contribution to support Indigenous languages in the North 
• Minister Rodriguez announces the appointment of the new Government Film Commissioner of the National Film Board of Canada 

Competition Bureau Canada

• Competition Bureau makes recommendations for empowering Canadian health care providers in the digital era 

Elections Canada

•  Remarks of the Chief Electoral Officer before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Foreign interference 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Government of Canada boosts Canada’s leadership in global artificial intelligence market 
• Governments of Canada and British Columbia invest $5.2 million to bring high-speed Internet to more than 1,100 households 

National Film Board

• Suzanne Guèvremont becomes the 17th Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada 
• More than eight years at the head of the NFB. Claude Joli-Coeur offers positive overview of his term and announces the adoption of specific racial equity targets as of April 2023. 

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

• Upholding the right of access to information: The Commissioner’s perspective 

CRTC

• CRTC Broadband Fund launches third call to improve Internet access and mobile wireless services across Canada 
• Ian Scott to the Canadian Telecom Summit 

• Telecom order 2022-326
  [2022-11-30 14:00:00]
  Broadband Fund Payment Order – Approval of Claim Forms – November 2022
• Telecom notice of consultation 2022-325
  [2022-11-30 14:00:00]
  Call for applications – Broadband Fund – Third call for applications – Public record: 1011-NOC2022-0325
• Broadcasting decision 2022-324
  [2022-11-28 11:00:00]
  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Ottawa and Rolphton, Ontario – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the French language radio station CBOF-FM Ottawa
• Telecom order 2022-323
  [2022-11-28 11:00:00]
  Mandatory order – Pursuant to section 51 of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission orders Net2Web Inc. and Naved Ashraf, Director of Net2Web Inc., to comply with the requirement set out at paragraph 45 of Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy 2016-102 and file proof with the Commission that they have done so, within 60 days of the date of the order
• Telecom decision 2022-322
  [2022-11-28 11:00:00]
  Net2Web Inc. – Failure to become a participant in the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services Inc. – Public record: 1011-NOC2021-0338
• Broadcasting decision 2022-321
  [2022-11-25 11:00:00]
  Radio Communautaire de Châteauguay CHAI-FM – Châteauguay, Quebec – Application to change the authorized contours of CHAI-FM Châteauguay
• Compliance and Enforcement decision 2022-320
  [2022-11-24 11:00:00]
  9184-8630 Québec Inc., operating as Ramonage Plus – Violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules – File number: PDR 9174-3137
• Broadcasting decision 2022-319
  [2022-11-23 11:00:00]
  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Ottawa, Ontario, and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Quebec – Application to change the authorized contours of CBOF-FM-9 L’Isle-aux-Allumettes
• Broadcasting decision 2022-318
  [2022-11-22 11:00:00]
  CKRK K-103 FM Mohawk Radio Kahnawake Association – Kahnawake, Quebec – Application to change the authorized contours of the Indigenous (Type B Native) radio station CKRK-FM Kahnawake
• Telecom order 2022-317
  [2022-11-21 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: TELUS Communications Inc., TN 565A

Twitter Blog:

• Twitter 2.0: Our continued commitment to the public conversation 

Meta Blog

• Transparency Report, First Half 2022 
• Integrity and Transparency Reports, Third Quarter 2022 

Meta’s Adversarial Threat Report, Third Quarter 2022

(Week of December 1- 10, 2022)

Senate of Canada

• TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS: Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts 

Canadian House of Commons 

• (ETHI): Access to Information, Privacy & Ethics
  • December 5, 2022, 3:30 PM (EST): Access to Information and Privacy System  
• (CHPC): Canadian Heritage
  • December 9, 2022 8:49 AM (EST) ; December 6, 2022 11:05 AM (EST); December 2, 2022, 1:03 PM (EST) – Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communication platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada 
  • Fourth Report: Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada 
• (INDU): Industry, Science and Technology:
  • Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair) 
  • December 8, 2022, 3:56 PM (EST): Blockchain Technology 

Supreme Court of Canada

•  Iristel inc. c. Telus Communications Inc., Rogers Communications Canada Inc. et Centre pour la défense de l’intérêt public (C.F.) (Civile) (Autorisation) (40171): The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal, Number 21-A-31, dated March 7, 2022, is dismissed with costs to the respondents, Telus Communications Inc. and Rogers Communications Canada Inc. 

Competition Tribunal

• CT-2022-002 Commissioner of Competition v Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.
  • Applicant and the Respondents filed their final arguments  

CRTC

• CRTC rejects Telus’ request to charge credit card processing fee for regulated home telephone services 
• CRTC maintains support for Canadian artists on commercial radio 

• Telecom information bulletin 2022-337
  [2022-12-09 11:00:00]
  Practice and procedure for final offer arbitration to determine mobile virtual network operator access rates
• Telecom regulatory policy 2022-234-1
  [2022-12-09 11:00:00]
  Introduction of 9-8-8 as the three-digit abbreviated dialing code for mental health crisis and suicide prevention services and Northwestel Inc.’s application for modified implementation of ten-digit local dialing – Correction to the Regulatory Policy – Public records: 1011-NOC2021-0191 and 8698-N1-202201557
• Broadcasting decision 2022-336
  [2022-12-08 11:00:00]
  Gospel Media Communications – Montréal, Quebec – Application to acquire from Radio Chalom the assets of the religious AM radio station CJRS Montréal
• Telecom order 2022-335
  [2022-12-08 11:00:00]
  TELUS Communications Inc. – Introduction of a credit card processing fee for regulated services in Alberta and British Columbia – Public record: Tariff Notice 573
• Broadcasting regulatory policy 2022-334
  [2022-12-07 11:00:00]
  Revised conditions of licence for commercial AM and FM radio stations
• Broadcasting regulatory policy 2022-333
  [2022-12-07 11:00:00]
  Revised content categories and subcategories for radio
• Broadcasting regulatory policy 2022-332
  [2022-12-07 11:00:00]
  Revised Commercial Radio Policy – Public record: 1011-NOC2020-0374
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2022-331
  [2022-12-05 11:00:00]
  Notice of hearing – 23 February 2023 – National Capital Region – Deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 23 January 2023
• Broadcasting decision 2022-330
  [2022-12-02 11:00:00]
  Acadia Broadcasting Corporation – Vermilion Bay, Dryden, Kenora and Sioux Lookout, Ontario – Application for authority to acquire from Golden West Broadcasting Ltd. the assets of the English-language commercial radio station CKQV-FM Vermilion Bay
• Broadcasting decision 2022-329
  [2022-12-01 11:00:00]
  La radio communautaire de Fermont inc. – Fermont, Quebec – Application for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language community FM radio station in Fermont
• Telecom order 2022-328
  [2022-12-01 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc., TN 1168
• Telecom order 2022-327
  [2022-12-01 11:00:00]
  Broadband Fund – Acceptance of statement of work for South Kountry Cable (2022) Ltd.’s access project in British Columbia – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372
• Telecom decision 2022-265-1
  [2022-12-01 11:00:00]
  CISC Emergency Services Working Group – Consensus report ESRE0074b – Proposal to Manage Multi-line Telephone Systems in the Canadian Enhanced 9-1-1 or Next-Generation 9-1-1 Environment – Amendment to paragraph 26 – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08

Global Affairs Canada

• Joint Statement through the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on Standing with the Women and Girls of Iran
• Canada announces new support for projects working to end gender-based violence around the world 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Joint statement by Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America on telecommunications supplier diversity 

Microsoft Blog

• Microsoft joins as a founding member of the Industry Data for Society Partnership 
• Preparing for a Russian cyber offensive against Ukraine this winter 

(Week of December 11-20, 2022) 

Senate of Canada

• TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
  • Substantive Report of the Committee: Third Report: Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, with amendments and observations 

Canadian Heritage 

• Minister Rodriguez announces appointments at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) 
• Minister Rodriguez announces the reappointment of Michael Goldbloom, C.M. as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of CBC/Radio-Canada 

Competition Tribunal 

• CT-2022-002 Commissioner of Competition v Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.
  • Commissioner of Competition filed a  Presentation and book of Authorities on the Final Arguments
  • Rogers Communications Inc. filed a Compendium  
  • Shaw Communications inc. filed a Compendium 
  • Videotron Limited filed a Compendium 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Government of Canada invests up to $31 million to bring high-speed Internet access to over 4,700 households in Nova Scotia  
• Government of Canada announces ElevateIP partnerships that will support Canadian startups
• Government of Canada continues to accelerate progress on connecting all Canadians to high-speed Internet  

Information Commissioner of Canada

• Commissioner expresses concerns regarding the Government of Canada’s report on the review of Access to Information

CRTC

• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2022-331-1
  [2022-12-15 11:00:00]
  Notice of hearing – 23 February 2023 – National Capital Region – Amendments to items 1 and 2
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2022-252-1
  [2022-12-15 11:00:00]
  Notice of hearing – 10 January 2023 – Gatineau, Quebec – Withdrawal of Item 1
• Telecom decision 2022-341
  [2022-12-15 11:00:00]
  Final 2022 revenue-percent charge and related matters
• Telecom decision 2022-340
  [2022-12-15 11:00:00]
  Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV), Inc. – Application requesting video relay service funding for 2023 – Public record: 8665-C209-202204759
• Broadcasting decision 2022-339
  [2022-12-14 11:00:00]
  Toronto Maple Leafs Network Ltd. – Toronto, Ontario – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the English-language discretionary service Leafs Nation Network
• Broadcasting decision 2022-338
  [2022-12-14 11:00:00]
  Blue Ant Media Inc., on behalf of the partners in a general partnership carrying business as Blue Ant Television General Partnership (13334805 Canada Limited and 8946337 Canada Limited) – Across Canada – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the English-language discretionary service A.Side

Youtube Blog

• How YouTube supported the 2022 U.S. midterm elections 

Meta Blog

• Protecting People From Online Threats In 2022 
• Meta Launches New Content Moderation Tool as It Takes Chair of Counter-Terrorism NGO 

Senate of Canada

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The Senate has no scheduled sitting or possible sitting days for the week of December 19 – December  23, 2022. The next scheduled sitting day is January 30, 2023. 

Canadian House of Commons

• Planned & Possible sitting days this week: The House of Commons has no scheduled sitting days for the week of December 19- December 23, 2022.  The next scheduled sitting day is January 30, 2023. 

CRTC 

• Anticipated releases for the week of 31 October to 4 November 2022
  • Broadcasting Decision:
    • Quebecor Media Inc., on behalf of Videotron Ltd.Province of Quebec Quebecor’s application to revoke Hill Valley’s exempt broadcasting distribution undertaking status. Public record: 2022-0199-5
  • Telecom Decision:
    • Northwestel Inc. – Application to modify the filing process for the company’s retail Internet service tariffs. Public record: 8646-N1-202108175

Open Proceedings

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings

Public Consultations: 

• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 
•  Consultation on the future of competition policy in Canada (Nov 17, 2022 to Feb 27, 2023 

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