Weekly Column from Kenora MP Eric Melillo
Dear Constituents,
Conservatives have been fighting a dangerous Liberal Bill that could have devastating impacts on freedom of speech.
Bill C-10 would give the CRTC sweeping powers to regulate the internet – including what Canadians are allowed to post online – including on social media networks like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram.
Civil liberties advocates and internet experts have raised alarms – including a former CRTC Commissioner, who called the Bill a “full-blown assault” on freedom of expression.
What’s worse, the Liberals have fought every safeguard that might protect private speech.
The Liberals even removed a section from the Bill that would have exempted “user-generated content” from rules applied to broadcasters. That means that your personal Facebook profile could be subject to the same rules as big broadcast networks like the CBC –including Canadian content requirements, prohibitions on foul language, and restrictions on political content.
My Conservative colleagues who are studying this Bill in Committee attempted to have the Bill reviewed for compliance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But the Liberals even blocked this, before caving a few days later.
Liberal Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault now says he will amend the Bill to make it “crystal clear” that social media platforms will be exempted. But the problem was never about “clarity” – this Bill is fundamentally flawed.
Conservatives will always stand up against censorship, and we will be using every avenue at our disposal to protect Canadians.
Securing Our Environment:
Last week, I spoke in the House of Commons on Bill C-12, the Liberals’ lacklustre Net Zero Emissions legislation. This is a typical Liberal bill, continuing this government’s track record of creating standards for future governments instead of taking action themselves.
I contrasted C-12 with our Conservative climate plan, which is ambitious yet practical. Our plan includes investing in innovations to reduce emissions, promoting conservation, incentivizing industry to make their operations more efficient, and placing carbon border tariffs on big polluters like China.
The Liberals have been spinning their wheels for years in the fight against climate change. Canada’s Conservatives actually have a roadmap and we’re ready to get in the driver’s seat.”
Working For You
As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, or if you would like to arrange a meeting, please call me at 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or 807-468-2170 (Kenora), or contact me by email at eric.melillo@parl.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Eric Melillo
Member of Parliament
