She said the fact that Canadians have a diversity of experience and opinions makes the country stronger "when we are respectful of each other.” But respect “is something we really have to work on in the next months and probably years," she believes. 

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez is pressing ahead with plans for a law to make digital giants pay Canadian outlets for using their content, not just to shore up the media but to counteract fake news.

Members of a parliamentary committee set up to scrutinize the Emergencies Act will have to take an oath of secrecy, but will not be given access to highly classified material, says the government’s representative in the Senate.

The House of Commons has passed a motion to approve extraordinary, time−limited measures in the Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked last week in a bid to end blockades in Ottawa and at several border crossings.

Police officers descended on anti-government protesters in Ottawa on Friday, arresting 70 people and towing vehicles in a push to end a three-week occupation that has reverberated across Canada and around the world.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney and Amazon Prime are "the new big players" and should contribute more to Canadian culture.

The exemption, passed by order in council last month, is due to the "urgent public health necessity" of the supplies they are transporting, Health Canada states. 

Bringing children to the antigovernment blockades that have immobilized downtown Ottawa and shuttered border crossings is among the activities that could net protesters a fine of up to $5,000 or five years in prison while Canada is under the national Emergencies Act.

But some divisions are now emerging within the Liberal caucus and some MPs are calling for a shift in tone and direction from the government.

Sen. Patricia Bovey, former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and a National Gallery of Canada board member for many years, is determined to do more to promote black artists and history