By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – With the Online Steaming Act presently being studied, both on the floor of the Senate and by the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, some may be wondering what the next steps for the legislation are and when it will come into force.
Earlier this month, the Hill Times indicated “Senate leaders have already struck a deal that will have them hold a final vote on three government bills by Nov. 18 (including) the online streaming bill, C-11 (…).”
Even still, it could be a while before the act comes into force.
After delays by Conservatives that led the government to limit debate on the bill in the House and in committee (heritage), C-11 was sent to the Senate on June 21, 2022.
The Senate’s transport committee then undertook to conduct a pre-study of the legislation, before Parliament was back from their summer break – however, until the Senate adopts the bill in second reading, which started last week and is expected to resume tomorrow, the committee cannot entertain amendments.
Second reading is likely to pass soon but some amendments are expected from the committee, which could slow things down.
After the committee ends its clause-by-clause process, the bill goes back to the floor of the Senate for a vote on report stage and another for third reading.
So, even if the Senate gets the bill out of the Senate by Nov. 18, the process will again be slowed down as the House will have to deal with the Senate amendments since “it is for the House itself to decide whether it accepts or rejects the amendments proposed by the Senate,” according to Parliament’s procedural info website.
Once they do, Royal Assent is the next step.
Then, an Order in Council will determine when the act comes into force, which could coincide with the policy direction from the government with instructions for the CRTC.
That will not likely be before Christmas unless the government really, really gets its… act together.
