Updated Tue. Apr. 22 2008 2:25 PM ET
The Canadian Press - Posted on CTV
TORONTO -- It's time to bring the daily debates of the Ontario legislature to the "YouTube" generation and stream them live on the Internet as soon as possible, Liberal house leader Michael Bryant said Monday.
The idea - first suggested by Opposition Leader Bob Runciman - will make the daily political proceedings accessible to all Ontario residents, Bryant said.
"He's right, the people deserve to be tuned in and have access to what's happening in the legislative assembly of Ontario," Bryant said. "It's one of those ideas that you think, why didn't we do this a long time ago?"
Although the ultimate decision is up to the Speaker and the legislature's internal committees, Bryant said setting up a live stream on the legislature website shouldn't be too difficult since the legislature is already broadcast on television.
Most politicians can attest to the committed viewership of the legislative channel, judging by the feedback they receive in their constituency offices, Bryant said. The legislature now needs to catch up with modern technology, he added.
"It's going to also increase viewership for a group of people who never tune into the legislative channel," he said.
"It's important that the legislature is playing a role in a medium that is the most important medium right now. It's as if the World Wide Web doesn't exist right now when it comes to the broadcast of legislature proceedings."
The Conservatives say legislature debates are becoming less accessible to television viewers since fewer cable companies include the legislative channel in their basic service.
Bringing the legislature directly to the computer screens of voters is all the more important given that diminishing coverage, Runciman said. Even TVO - the province's education network - is no longer staffing a bureau at the legislature, he said.
"We see so many shows at the federal level ... and very little coverage here," Runciman said. "It tends to give the government of the day a bit of a free ride."
NDP House Leader Peter Kormos said he likes the idea of broadcasting the legislature live on the Internet. But he said it's a bit hypocritical for the Liberals to be pushing this given their proposed changes to the legislature hours that will give opposition parties less time to prepare for question period.
"This government is trying to quash debate and speed the rate at which bills pass, so there is something inherently contradictory there," Kormos said.
Speaker Steve Peters said the legislature is already in the process of investigating live web streaming. There are some costs involved but most people think it's a good idea, he said.
"Certain satellite providers do not offer the legislative channel," Peters said. "Anything that we can do to enhance the public's access to the proceedings here in the legislative chamber, as politicians, we owe it to them to look at it."