By David Farrell
Senate makes key change to feds’ online streaming bill to keep YouTube videos out
Senators have removed controversial wording from the federal government’s online streaming bill that digital video creators feared could have led to the regulation of user-generated content on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.
The move, designed to reassure people who post videos on digital platforms that they are beyond the bill’s scope, follows failed attempts by Conservatives in the House of Commons to amend the clause.
Bill C-11 would update Canada’s broadcast laws so that they cover streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube. Under the new rules, those platforms would have to promote and support Canadian creative work, including songs, TV programs and films. – Marie Woolf, The Globe and Mail
How will Canada regulate news and streaming?
Two pieces of legislation, the Online Streaming Act and Online News Act respectively, are currently making their way through Parliament. What are the controversies behind both bills, and what will they mean for newsmakers and content creators if they're passed? To provide insight, The Agenda’s Steve Paikin welcomed Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and e-Commerce Law and law professor at the University of Ottawa.
Paramount Global debuts Pluto TV in Canada
Pluto TV, Paramount Global’s free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service, officially made its debut in Canada on Thursday.
Pluto will offer over 20,000 hours of free programming, introducing a diverse lineup of over 110 thematic and single-series channels from the Paramount library and more than 100 third-party partners.
Through a partnership with Corus Entertainment, Pluto TV now offers Canadian audiences a wide spectrum of free programming, including TV and film franchises in genres such as drama, comedy, lifestyle, kids, plus around-the-clock news. -- Lucas Manfredi, The Wrap
CBC rebrands under one entertainment banner
CBC has pulled back the curtain on its new strategic direction, detailing its diverse new content, an entertainment consolidation and rebrand, and a new FAST channel in conjunction with its news division.
At the Nov. 30 event at Toronto’s Massey Hall, hosted by “Kim’s Convenience” and “Run the Burbs” star Andrew Phung, the broadcaster explained that all entertainment content, including streaming, linear and podcasts, now lives under the CBC Entertains umbrella. Combined, CBC Entertains and CBC News is the company’s two-pronged approach designed to engage and amplify new voices in Canada — for all Canadians.
“Everybody knows CBC News. It’s where Canadians turn whenever there’s a big story,” CBC’s executive VP Barbara Williams tells Variety. “We do an amazing amount of entertaining content across TV, CBC Gem, [radio app] Listen, and podcasts. And somehow that collection of entertainment content wasn’t quite as clearly understood. So we put it all together under a headline.” – Amber Dowling, Variety
No Valentyne Love for Corus or Derringer
… Nobody is expected an apology from Corus, because that’s viewed as an admission of guilt. But the complaints from female staff go back many years, and what’s mystifying is that nothing was done over all those years.
It’s perhaps fair to question why so much time and money might have been spent to seemingly cover up the mess instead of trying to fix it.
(Current rumours say Derringer got $8 million when he parted company with Corus.)
Maureen Holloway, Supriya Dwivedi, Jacqui Delaney — each of these high-profile women has spoken about the alleged enablers of Derringer.
When will that be addressed? – Liz Braun, Toronto Sun
StatsCan retail commodity survey, September 2022
Retail sales reached $62.0 billion in September, an increase of 6.8% compared with the same month in 2021. Higher sales were reported in 16 of the 19 commodity classes.
The Monthly Retail Trade Survey advance estimate suggests that unadjusted total retail sales increased by 5.5% in October. Because of its preliminary nature, this figure will be revised.
Fuel sales lead retail gains
In September, higher sales of automotive and household fuels (+21.2%) were the largest contributor to the increase in dollar terms. With continued elevated prices seen at the pump, sales of automotive fuels posted their 19th consecutive annual increase in September, rising 21.3% compared with September 2021.
Sales of motor vehicles rose by 1.3% in September, the second consecutive year-over-year increase for this commodity class. Sales of used motor vehicles (+2.4%) were the largest contributor to the gain, led by used minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (+3.4%). Sales of new motor vehicles increased by 0.3% from the same month in 2021, with higher sales of new minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks (+7.5%) being mostly offset by lower sales of new passenger cars (-33.0%).
Strong food sales continue in September
Food sales increased year over year for a sixth consecutive month in September (+8.3%). Fresh food (+7.4%) posted the largest gain within the product class, with higher sales of fresh fruit and vegetables (+9.9%) leading the gains. Packaged food dry goods (+9.1%) and frozen food (+10.9%) also posted higher receipts. Sales of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages posted a 6.7% increase compared with September 2021. Gains were led by alcoholic beverages (+5.3%) and soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages (+10.4%).
Discretionary products on the rise
Sales of hardware, tools, and renovation and lawn and garden products grew 8.0% in September. Most of the gain came from higher sales of renovation materials and supplies (+8.0%), with lumber and other renovation materials and supplies (+9.2%) accounting for the bulk of the increase.
Sales of clothing (+11.8%) remained strong in September, posting their eighth consecutive monthly gain over sales levels from the same eight months in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales in the women's clothing (+12.9%) and men's clothing (+18.1%) subclass increased. Footwear sales continued to increase in September 2022, rising by 9.9% compared with the same month in 2021.
Behind the Numbers: What’s Causing Growth in Food Prices
… Since late 2021, price increases for food sold in stores, measured on a year-over-year basis, have outpaced headline consumer inflation, growing faster than 10% in August, September and October 2022. In September 2022, yearly price increases for food purchased in stores (11.4%) rose at the fastest pace since 1981, remaining elevated in October (+11.0%). Food prices have risen due to multiple factors that have put upward pressure on costs along the food supply chain. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many factors have impacted prices at the grocery store, such as supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, changes in consumer purchasing patterns, poor weather in some growing regions, tariffs, higher input costs, and higher wages. Unlike past trends, many of these conditions and pressures have been occurring simultaneously or in a more pronounced manner, leading to broad-based increases in food prices. – Allyson Fradella, Statistics Canada
