Program

07:45 - 08:50

Participants registration and continental breakfast

08:50 - 09:00

Opening Remarks
Grant Buchanan, President, IIC Canada

09:30 - 10:30
Panel 1

New Definition of Canadian Program
Bill C-11 will amend the Broadcasting Act and the Government has indicated that part of that effort on the audio-visual side will involve modernizing the definition of what constitutes a Canadian program. This expert panel will review the current approach and consider possible alternatives that fit within the CRTC's new mandate to craft a forward-looking, flexible regulatory framework.

Moderator: Greg O'Brien - Channel Zero Inc.
Panelists:
Doug Barrett - Schulich School of Business
Joan Jenkinson - Black Screen Office
Tandy Yull - Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Wendy Noss - Motion Picture Association - Canada

10:30 - 10:50

Networking Break

10:50 - 11:50
Panel 2

Bill C-27 (Updating Canada’s Privacy Legislation)
The Digital Charter Implementation Act was introduced in June 2022 and proposed the enactment of the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. This panel breaks it all down for us and will look more closely at the trade-offs in balancing commercial imperatives with personal privacy.

Moderator: David Elder - Stikeman Elliott LLP
Panelists:
Kirsten Thompson, Dentons
Peter Kosmala, CIPP - York University, Toronto
Sonia Carreno - Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada

12:20 - 12:50

Keynote Address
Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada

12:50 - 13:35

AI and Its Impact on the Communications Sector
Nina Schick - Author, Advisor, Speaker Specializing in Generative AI

A discussion/demonstration of the most recent AI technologies such as CHAT-GPT, DALL-E 2, etc., by one of the world’s foremost experts in the area.

13:45 - 14:00
Short Track 1

Regulatory Approaches to AI developments
Charles Morgan - McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Various countries have started to take a much closer look at the recent developments in AI. This session will outline the various regulatory approaches being taken (including those in the European Union, the United States and Canada) to deal with these new developments.

14:00 - 14:15
Short Track 2

Copyright Implications of the Latest AI Developments
Dr. Carys Craig - Osgoode Hall Law School

The significant strides being made in AI, including generative AI, come with a host of issues on the copyright front that will need to be dealt with to ensure that creators are properly compensated while allowing AI to reach its full potential.

14:15 - 14:30
Short Track 3

Can AI Be Made More inclusive?
Dr. Marc-Antoine Dilhac - Université de Montréal

It is no secret that human biases have found their way into AI's algorithms, and that those biases, if not recognized and dealt with, can have harmful effects on certain members/classes of society. This session will consider how such biases can be identified and mitigated.

14:30 - 15:30
Panel 3

Bill C-26 and Cybersecurity
In June 2022, the Government introduced Bill C-26 respecting cybersecurity. The safety and security of Canada's telecommunications infrastructure is critical in a digital economy and a democratic society. How well are we protected against cyber-attacks? What are the issues and how is Canada positioned vis-à-vis other countries in this area? What more could or should be done, if anything? This panel of experts will explore these and other issues.

Moderator: Ian Scott - Former Chairperson & CEO, CRTC
Panelists:
Alexandra Quigley - Dentons Canada LLP
Alexis Rapin - Raoul Dandurand Chair of Strategic and Diplomatic Studies (UQAM)
Charles Noir  - Canadian Internet Registration Authority
Kristen Csenkey - Balsillie School of International Affairs

15:30 - 15:50

Networking Break

15:50 - 16:20

Broadband Cost Recovery
Roslyn Layton - Strand Consult

Policy makers in the European Union, United States, South Korea and other countries are looking at possible changes to the current Internet model. Currently, end users and broadband providers bear the costs of connectivity while certain companies profit from, but do not contribute to, the cost recovery of the networks. What, if anything, needs to change?

16:20 - 16:35
Short Track 4

Developments in Indigenous Connectivity
Madeleine Redfern - CanArctic Inuit Networks

It is no secret that the market-based approach to connectivity is not working well for Indigenous communities; so Indigenous communities in many cases are taking matters into their own hands. The Indigenous Connectivity Institute is working to close the digital divide by shaping policy, sharing knowledge and helping Indigenous people to build and run their own networks.

16:35 - 16:40
ITU Segment

The Worldwide Allocation of Spectrum
Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin

The International Telecommunication Union’s first female Secretary-General will discuss how spectrum is allocated worldwide and what activities are currently underway at ITU, including the next World Radiocommunication Conference in Dubai in November/December 2023.

16:40 - 16:55
Short Track 5

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's (ISED) Spectrum Priorities and Outlook
Chantal Davis - ISED

Last fall, ISED called for comments on its proposed spectrum outlook for the next five years. Expected imminently, it will need to balance a number of priorities, including spectrum as an economic driver, rural connectivity, Indigenous connectivity, 5G and climate change, and competition and wireless affordability.

17:00 - 19:00

Reception
Sponsored by the Canadian Telecommunications Association

07:45 - 08:50

Participants registration and continental breakfast

08:50 - 09:00

Opening Remarks
Jim Patrick, Board Member, IIC Canada

09:00 - 09:15
Short Track 6

Scams and Fraudulent Calls
Steven Harroun - CRTC

Whether by phone or online, fraudsters and scammers torment our daily existence. This session outlines the steps that the CRTC has undertaken, and is undertaking to protect Canadians from these unwanted approaches.

09:15 - 09:30
Short Track 7

Personal Attacks on Journalists
Michael Serapio - CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel)
Susan Delacourt, National Columnist, Toronto Star

Attacks on journalists over social media are occurring almost daily and are especially antagonistic towards women — especially but not exclusively women of colour. Listen to the insults and threats these journalists face in trying to do their jobs — critical jobs in keeping a democracy intact and holding those in power to account.

09:30 - 10:30
Panel 4

Online Safety
As Canada prepares to introduce legislation to address harmful content online, experts continue to debate the best approach to a framework. To whom should the legislation apply? What should be in scope: just clearly unlawful content, or also content that is "lawful but awful"? Private messaging? Recommender systems? What should be the role and function of a regulator? This panel explores the role of government, civil society and industry in reducing harmful content online and how we can create a safer online space for Canadians while respecting freedom of expression.

Moderator: Michael Serapio - CPAC
Panelists:
Dr. Emily Laidlaw - University of Calgary
Florian Martin-Bariteau - Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University
Stephen Brown - National Council of Canadian Muslims
Steve de Eyre - TikTok Canada

10:30 - 10:50

Networking Break

10:50 - 11:05
Short Track 8

The Digital Markets Act / La législation sur les marchés numériques
Pierre Larouche - Université de Montréal, Faculty of Law

The European Union's landmark Digital Markets Act will impose far-reaching new conditions on the operations of large online platforms identified as "gatekeepers".  New "Do's" and "Don'ts" that must be complied with by the gatekeepers aim to significantly reduce potentially anti-competitive behaviour and to promote what the EU Commission sees as fairer online markets. This presentation will review the Act and consider its implications for European and global online markets.

11:05 - 12:05
Panel 5

Competition Act Reform
On November 17, 2022, ISED launched a public consultation process to consider broad changes to the Competition Act. A major focus of debates on the future of competition law relates to telecommunications, the Internet, and digital services. This panel will discuss the state of Canadian competition law in the context of international competition law reforms, and the types of changes that could be made to the Competition Act and its enforcement framework to protect consumers and the integrity of the marketplace.

Moderator: Hank Intven - Haro Strait Consulting
Panelists:
Jennifer Quaid - University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section
John Pecman - Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Pierre Larouche - Université de Montréal, Faculty of Law

12:05 - 12:15

Welcome Remarks
Robert Ghiz, President and CEO
Canadian Telecommunications Association

12:15 - 12:55

Lunch

12:55 - 13:25

Keynote Address
Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition
Competition Bureau Canada

13:25 - 13:50

Can Generative AI Address Privacy Challenges?
Dr. Khaled El Emam, Professor, University of Ottawa

13:50 - 13:55

Break

13:55 - 14:10
Short Track 9

Digital Discrimination
Nirali Patel – USTelecom - The Broadband Association

In December 2022, the Federal Communications Commission announced a process seeking comments on the promotion and facilitation of equal access to broadband Internet service "with the goal of creating a framework for combatting digital discrimination that has caused harm to historically excluded and marginalized communities". Where are we in that journey and what lessons can we as Canadians take from that process?

14:10 - 14:25
Short Track 10

Key Legal Developments in the U.S. on Section 230 and the Florida/Texas Cases on Taking Down of Political Speech
Jennifer Tatel - Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in cases involving the content moderation practices of social media platforms. Later this year, the Court may consider legislation proposed by Florida and Texas to prevent large social media companies from removing posts based on the views they express. These cases could have impacts beyond the U.S. in terms of how democracies deal with content moderation practices on the large platforms.

14:25 - 14:55
Panel 6

Sustainability and Canadian Communications Industry Initiatives
As our world's climate continues to change at an unsustainable rate, what are communications industry players doing to confront these challenges? Our panel of experts will break down some of the approaches and demonstrate the positive steps that they and their companies are taking as well as providing thoughts on what we all might consider doing to help in this existential battle.

Lisa Clarkson - CBC
Shannon Bart - Netflix
Tracey Friesen - Canadian Media Producers Association, BC Branch

14:55 - 15:10
Short Track 11

Financial Overview of Canada’s Communications Sector
Stephanie Price - CIBC

This session considers the Canadian communications sector from an investment analyst's perspective. It will explore the financial state of the industry as well as the impact of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) movement on corporate policies and on investment in the sector.

15:10 - 15:25
Short Track 12

What Future for Radio? / Quel avenir pour la radio ?
Caroline Paquet - Cogeco Media

In December, the CRTC published its Commercial Radio Policy and while some aspects remain to be considered in future processes, the radio industry is moving forward. In this session, the President of Cogeco Media will discuss the threats and opportunities for the commercial radio industry moving forward.

15:25 - 15:40
Short Track 13

Recent Approaches to Engagement in Commission Proceedings With Indigenous Peoples in Canada – A Path Towards Reconciliation
Moira Letourneau / Julia Kelen - CRTC

First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada have unique rights that are guaranteed under Constitution Act, 1982. To protect these rights, Canadian courts developed the doctrine of the duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate Indigenous groups. The duty to consult doctrine is of fundamental importance and this session explores how the CRTC is interpreting this requirement.

15:40 - 15:50

Closing Remarks
Grant Buchanan, President, IIC Canada