https://www.wsj.com/articles/justin-trudeaus-plan-to-control-the-internet-11621375979 Skip to Main ContentSkip to Search Dow Jones, a News Corp companyAbout WSJ * News Corp is a global, diversified media and information services company focused on creating and distributing authoritative and engaging content and other products and services. * Dow Jones + Barron's + BigCharts + Dow Jones Businesses + Dow Jones Newswires + Factiva + Financial News + Mansion Global + MarketWatch + Newsmart + NewsPlus + Risk & Compliance + WSJ Live + WSJ Pro + WSJ Video + WSJ.com * News Corp + Avail + Business Spectator + HarperCollins Publishers + Housing + Knewz.com + Makaan + New York Post + PropTiger + REA + realtor.com + Storyful + The Australian + The Sun + The Times * The Wall Street JournalOpinion SubscribeSign In English Edition * English * Zhong Wen (Chinese) * Ri Ben Yu (Japanese) Print Edition Video Podcasts Latest Headlines The Wall Street JournalOpinion SubscribeSign In * Home * World + Regions + Africa + Asia + Canada + China + Europe + Latin America + Middle East + Sections + Economy + More + World Video * U.S. + Sections + Economy + Law + New York + Politics + Columns & Blogs + Real Time Economics + Washington Wire + More + WSJ Noted. + Journal Report + U.S. Video + What's News Podcast * Politics + Sections + Election 2020 + Campaign Wire + More + WSJ/NBC News Poll + Politics Video * Economy + Blogs + Real Time Economics + WSJ Pro + Bankruptcy + Central Banking + Private Equity + Strategic Intelligence + Venture Capital + More + Economic Forecasting Survey + Economy Video * Business + Sections + Management + Tech/WSJ.D + The Future of Everything + Industries + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Commercial Real Estate + Consumer Products + Energy + Entrepreneurship + Financial Services + Food & Services + Health Care + + Hospitality + Law + Manufacturing + Media & Marketing + Natural Resources + Retail + C-Suite + CFO Journal + CIO Journal + CMO Today + Logistics Report + Risk & Compliance + The Experience Report + Columns + Heard on the Street + WSJ Pro + Artificial Intelligence + Bankruptcy + Central Banking + Cybersecurity + Private Equity + Strategic Intelligence + Venture Capital + More + Business Video + Journal Report + Business Podcast * Tech + Sections + CIO Journal + The Future of Everything + Columns + Christopher Mims + Joanna Stern + Julie Jargon + Nicole Nguyen + More + Tech Video + Tech Podcast + Startup Stock Tracker * Markets + Sections + Bonds + Commercial Real Estate + Commodities & Futures + Stocks + Personal Finance + WSJ Money + Columns & Blogs + Heard on the Street + MoneyBeat + Wealth Adviser + Market Data + Market Data Home + U.S. Stocks + Currencies + Companies + Commodities + Bonds & Rates + Mutual Funds & ETFs + More + CFO Journal + Journal Report + Markets Video + Your Money Briefing Podcast + Secrets of Wealthy Women Podcast + Search Quotes and Companies * Opinion + Columnists + Gerard Baker + Sadanand Dhume + James Freeman + William A. 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Magazine + Sections + Fashion + Art & Design + Travel + Food + Culture Search [ ][Search] OpinionRead the Latest Israel, Hamas, Iran and BidenWarren Tells the TruthThe Fed is Playing With FireRobert Mueller's RevengeThe Man They Couldn't CancelBiden's Tariff Truce Share * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Copy Link * Opinion * Commentary Justin Trudeau's Plan to Control the Internet His government seeks to erect a great firewall of Canada. Wonder Land: More than 100 corporation leaders have done a Davos by laptop to vilify Republicans and validate their progressive credentials. Image: Getty Images/iStock Photo By Ian Cooper May 18, 2021 6:13 pm ET Toronto Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a plan to regulate speech on the internet by placing it under the control of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. His bill is so awful that Peter Menzies, a former vice chairman of the commission, said it "doesn't just infringe on free expression, it constitutes a full-blown assault upon it and, through it, the foundations of democracy." Mr. Trudeau's Liberals claim they merely want to level the playing field between traditional broadcasters and online players such as Netflix and Spotify. Yet on its face the bill goes much further. To begin with, anyone who makes programs available over the internet would be treated as a broadcaster and under the thumb of the CRTC. While websites wouldn't need a formal license to operate in Canada, the commission would have open-ended power to impose conditions and require them to "make expenditures to support the Canadian broadcasting system." Who has to do this and how much do they have to spend? They'll tell us later. The legislation also vaguely alludes to the need for the Canadian broadcasting system to "serve the interests of Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds." Again, who'd have to do this and what they'd have to do is anyone's guess. 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