Official records from the Canadian Parliament

Liberals' Online Harms Act to Cost $201M/yr, Employ 330 Investigators Over 5 Years

Jul 4, 2024, 07:13 PM

A new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reveals that the Liberal government's proposed Bill C-63, also known as the Online Harms Act, will require over $200 million in funding and the establishment of a new censorship bureaucracy. The Digital Safety Commission, Ombudsman, and Office will collectively employ approximately 300 full-time staff and 330 investigators. The bill is projected to cost $201 million per year to operate over the next 5 years. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to repeal the bill, describing it as a 'three-headed censorship monster' that will police online content. The bill has sparked significant controversy, with critics arguing it imposes high opportunity costs and infringes on free speech.