It was agreed, — That the Sixth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, as amended, which read as follows, be concurred in:

1. That the prioritized lists of witnesses for the study of Tech giant’s current and ongoing use of intimidation and subversion tactics to evade regulation in Canada and across the world be submitted to the clerk of the committee by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

2. That the committee commence clause by clause consideration of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate) on Thursday, October 5, 2023, and that amendments be submitted to the clerk in both official languages no later than noon on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

3. That, pursuant to the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 2, 2023, the committee invite Vicky Eatrides to appear for one hour with regard to her appointment as Chairperson of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications commission.

4. That the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity and the Minister of Canadian Heritage be invited to appear separately for one hour each and that officials be invited to appear during the second hour of each meeting.

5. That, for the period of January to March 2024, the committee discuss the option of holding public meetings in various Canadian cities to hear from the public and to visit cultural sites.

6. That before the December adjournment, the committee schedule two meetings to undertake the study of harms caused by online viewing of illegal sexually explicit material, pursuant to the motion adopted Monday, February 14, 2022.

7. That the deadline to submit written recommendations for the draft report on the study of safe sport in Canada be Thursday, October 19, 2023.

It was agreed, — That the committee invite Catherine Tait, to discuss her mandate as newly reappointed President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), for a minimum of one hour.

It was agreed, — That the committee invite Jean-François Bélisle to discuss his mandate as newly appointed Director of the National Gallery of Canada, for a minimum of one hour.

At 8:59 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:14 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Rachael Thomas gave notice of the following motion:

That the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage reaffirm its commitment to freedom of speech and denounce the decision by the Peel Regional Schoolboard Libraries to remove thousands of books published before the year 2008 and deemed by the school board to be culturally irrelevant; and call for all removed books to be immediately returned to school libraries.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Martin Champoux moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of six (6) meetings regarding the protection of freedom of expression and the means the Government should have at its disposal to ensure its exercise.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — To resume debate on the motion of Martin Champoux once the questioning of the witnesses was concluded.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of Martin Champoux.