Montreal, QC: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging the Trudeau government to abandon Bill C-11, as a recent poll shows that Quebecers are concerned about the future of their cultural autonomy if the legislation is passed.

"Quebecers have every reason to be concerned about the future of the province's cultural autonomy if Bill C-11 is passed," said Nicolas Gagnon, Quebec Director for the CTF. "The Trudeau government needs to understand that a majority of Quebecers view the government’s legislation to regulate the Internet as a threat."

The poll, conducted by Léger, shows that 64 per cent of Quebecers who are familiar enough with the Bill C-11 to provide an opinion view the legislation as a threat to Quebec’s cultural autonomy. That number rises to 69 per cent when looking only at Francophones.

“Quebec joins a long list of groups that have told the federal government that C-11 goes too far,” said Gagnon. “From Quebec content creators to civil liberties organizations to Trudeau-appointed independent senators, the bill is raising alarm bells for Canadians all across the country.”

The poll also shows that 25 per cent of Quebecers aren’t aware or familiar enough with the scope of Bill C-11 to provide an opinion. 

“If the Trudeau government really feels that Bill C-11 is a good bill and is popular with Quebecers the government should be out promoting it,” said Gagnon. “The fact that the government is okay with 25 per cent of Quebecers not even knowing the scope of Bill C-11 shows that the government is trying to sneak this bill through Parliament before voters know what’s in it.” 

Once implemented, Bill C-11 would give the CRTC the power to regulate the content that Canadians consume online, as well as define what is and is not Canadian content.

The Legault government has voiced its concerns about the powers granted to the CRTC under Bill C-11 and a motion was passed unanimously by the National Assembly to denounce its threat to Quebec's cultural autonomy.

"The federal government must understand that Quebec will not accept the CRTC regulating Quebec web content without being accountable to it," adds Nicolas Gagnon. "The opposition in the House of Commons must now make its voice heard. What is the Bloc Québécois doing to defend Quebec's cultural autonomy? And the NDP?"

Both the Bloc Québécois and the NDP voted to support Bill C-11 when it was first considered in the House of Commons. 

The survey can be viewed by clicking here.

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