{"id":166659,"date":"2026-08-13T14:59:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/166659\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T14:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T14:59:10","slug":"canadas-govt-urged-to-stay-strong-on-global-streamer-contributions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/166659\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada’s Gov’t Urged To Stay Strong On Global Streamer Contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canada<\/a>\u2018s biggest screen organizations want assurance \u2013 and quickly.<\/p>\n

The country\u2019s writers and directors unions, top screen bodies and several film festivals have united to form a coalition of 50 organizations urging Mark Carney<\/a>\u2018s Liberal Party government to stand firm on streaming contributions. <\/p>\n

An open letter released today addressed to Prime Minister Carney and Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller called for assurance that the principles Online Streaming Act<\/a> would be retained after a policy change appeared to change course.<\/p>\n

Among those adding signatures to the letter were leaders from the Calgary International Film Festival, Canadian Film Institute, Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), Directors Guild of Canada<\/a>, Hot Docs, Screen Composers Guild of Canada, Vancouver International Film Festival, Whistler Film Festival and the Writers Guild of Canada<\/a>. Notably, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) did not sign. We\u2019ve reached out to TIFF for comment.<\/p>\n

This comes after plans for policy amendments announced in June suggested the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) should a \u201cnew direction\u201d with the divisive Online Streaming Act, which has been in place since 2023. <\/p>\n

These appear to command a sharp reduction or even completely removal of obligations on the likes of Netflix and Prime Video to spend a portion of their local revenues on local content. A pledge of an annual C$600M ($430M) for content was made at the same time.<\/p>\n

The Canadian government has denied the changes are related to trade talks with President Donald Trump\u2019s administration, and are instead are about reducing burdens on families. Clearly, the entertainment industry disagrees with the position, CMPA chair Kyle Irving issuing a statement in June saying, \u201cWe are concerned that the federal government has sold out Canadian culture in favour of big U.S. tech interests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s screen orgs today demanded government should \u201cpreserve the principle that foreign streaming services must make meaningful, predictable and enforceable contributions to Canadian programming.\u201d<\/p>\n

The letter said the government\u2019s move ahead \u201cintroduced significant uncertainty into the production sector\u201d and disputed whether the C$600M pledge was \u201ca substitute for durable, legally enforceable contribution obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s unexpected announcement came after the CRTC has decided to up the streamer contributions from 5% to 15%, with the Liberal Party warning costs would be passed on to consumers. <\/p>\n

With Trump continuing to apply his trade tariffs policies around the world, some commentators and industry sources rejected that notion and have seen the repeal as a concession to Canada\u2019s southern neighbor. The open letter signatories called the 15% rate \u201can appropriate benchmark\u201d for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese contributions are not a tax or a levy,\u201d continued the open letter today. \u201cThey are investments in the acquisition and production of globally exploitable assets for foreign streaming services, showcasing Canadian stories and talent while strengthening the domestic production ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cost of changing course would risk the ecosystem of Canadian content, the letter warned. \u201cIf Canada does not require that a meaningful share of these contributions be directed to the production and promotion of original Canadian programming in both official languages, in culturally significant genres, we risk weakening Canada\u2019s position as a cultural exporter and diminishing both the domestic and global reach of Canadian stories,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of building and sharing our own stories with the world, we would be left watching from the sidelines as foreign content increasingly defines what Canadians see on their screens.\u201d<\/p>\n

For their part, global streamers insist they already spending significant amounts in Canada and do not need the burden of obligations. They have made similar arguments in Europe and Australia, but their position is disputed by most domestic production and film communities, who warn against the creep of homogenized global content.<\/p>\n

Carney\u2019s government is yet to respond to the open letter.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the letter in full.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dear Prime Minister Carney and Minister Miller,<\/p>\n

We are writing as a united group of Canadian screen sector organizations in response to the Department of Canadian Heritage announcement on June 3, 2026, regarding new policy directions to the CRTC and measures to support Canadian culture and recent correspondence between the Attorney General of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal signaling the government\u2019s intention to replace base contribution requirements with direct government investments.<\/p>\n

While we recognize the government\u2019s stated commitment to Canadian storytelling, the June 3 announcement has introduced significant uncertainty into the production sector. The government\u2019s $600 million per year pledge, though appreciated and welcome, is not a substitute for durable, legally enforceable contribution obligations. Discretionary funding is subject to budget and external political pressures; a regulated contribution framework is not. Against that backdrop, the government\u2019s indication that online streamers will still be required to reinvest a portion of their revenues in Canadian and Indigenous content is welcome, but it underscores the need to maintain clear and meaningful contribution requirements.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this letter is to urge the government to ensure that new policy directions preserve the principle that foreign streaming services must make meaningful, predictable and enforceable contributions to Canadian programming.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The fifteen per cent (15%) Canadian programming expenditure requirement established by the CRTC in its May 21, 2026 Phase 2 policy decision remains an appropriate benchmark for the resulting regulatory framework and should not be diminished through the replacement of the base contribution mechanism. Maintaining this threshold is fair and proportionate. Alongside sustained government funding, it is essential that a meaningful contribution requirement continue in order to support the long-term stability of the Canadian production sector \u2013 from coast to coast to coast.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A fifteen per cent contribution requirement ensures that foreign online streaming services are included within a modernized framework for the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission\u2019s decision also provided new contribution requirements for large Canadian broadcasting groups. The respective contribution levels are representative of the distinct roles of Canadian broadcasters and foreign online streaming services within a single system and ensure that both will contribute in an appropriate manner to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming.<\/p>\n

These contributions are not a tax or a levy. They are investments in the acquisition and production of globally exploitable assets for foreign streaming services, showcasing Canadian stories and talent while strengthening the domestic production ecosystem. Foreign streaming services are well positioned to monetize these assets and have every incentive to do so. In fact, this is the preferred distribution model for global streamers in other countries that have successfully introduced domestic programming contribution requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If Canada does not require that a meaningful share of these contributions be directed to the production and promotion of original Canadian programming in both official languages, in culturally significant genres, we risk weakening Canada\u2019s position as a cultural exporter and diminishing both the domestic and global reach of Canadian stories. Instead of building and sharing our own stories with the world, we would be left watching from the sidelines as foreign content increasingly defines what Canadians see on their screens. At a time when Canada is reaffirming its economic and cultural sovereignty, ensuring that those who benefit from the Canadian market also contribute to Canadian storytelling is not only reasonable but necessary.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s screen sector is aligned in its view that a predictable, balanced regulatory framework is vital to supporting hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs, attracting private investment, and sustaining industries that generate billions of dollars in economic activity across every region of Canada.<\/p>\n

Like you, the undersigned wish to ensure that new public investments and industry contributions are aligned to maximize benefits for Canadian creators and performers, audiences, and the broader economy. Doing so will provide the certainty needed to continue building a vibrant Canadian screen sector for generations to come.<\/p>\n

Sincerely, the undersigned.<\/p>\n

Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) Kelly Fox, Executive Director
Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC) Carol Ann Pilon, Directrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Marie Kelly, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator\u00a0
Anchor Motion Picture Alliance Jenna MacMillan, Executive Director\u00a0
Association des r\u00e9alisateurs et r\u00e9alisatrices du Qu\u00e9bec\u00a0(ARRQ) Myl\u00e8ne Cyr, Directrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale
Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople, Local 2020 Unifor Daryl Litke, Business Manager
Association qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise de la production m\u00e9diatique\u00a0(AQPM) Helene Messier, Pr\u00e9sidente-directrice
Atlantic International Film Festival Martha Cooley, Executive Director
BIPOC TV & Film Nathalie YounglaiFounder\u00a0
Black Screen Office (BSO) Joan Jenkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
Black Screen Office Fund (BSOF) Joan Jenkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
Broadcasting Accessibility Fund (BAF) Richard Cavanagh, CEO\/Funding Officer\u00a0
Calgary International Film Festival Katherine Penhale, Executive Director\u00a0
Canadian Film Fest Bern EulerFounder, Executive Director
The Canadian Film Institute Tom McSorley, Executive Director\u00a0
Canadian Independent Screen Fund Lalita Krishna, Board Chairperson
Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO
Coalition M\u00c9DIA Marina Mathieu, Directrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale
Community Radio Fund of Canada Alex Freedman, Executive Director
Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Alistair Hepburn, National Executive Director\u00a0
Disability Screen Office (DSO) Winnie Luk, Executive Director
Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) Julian Carrington, Executive Director\u00a0
Fascinasian Film Festival Alan Wong, President\u00a0
Festival du nouveau cin\u00e9ma Zo\u00e9 Protat, Co-Executive Director and Artistic DirectorAriane B\u00e9langer, Co-Executive Director and Administrative Director
Friends of Canadian Media Raj Shoan, Executive DirectorFuture of Film Showcase Eric Bizzarri, Co-Founder and CEO\u00a0
Gimli Film Festival Teya Zuzek, Executive Director\u00a0
Hot Docs Diana Sanchez, Executive Director
IMPACT Samantha Kaine, CEO
L\u2019Union des artistes (UDA) Alexandre Curzi, Directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral
Media NB Steve Foster, President\u00a0
Meridian Artists Glenn Cockburn, President\u00a0
NABET\u00a0Unifor\u00a0700M Jayson Mosek, Business Agent\u00a0
Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) Sonya Yokota William, Founder and Director\u00a0
On Screen Manitoba Lindsay Somers, Executive Director
Quebec English Language Production Council (QEPC) Kirwan Cox, Executive Director & Head of Policy
Racial Equity Media Collective (REMC) Tamara Mariam Dawit, Board MemberGavin Seal, Board Member\u00a0
Racial Equity Screen Office Barbara Lee, Founder & Board Chair\u00a0
Reel Asian International Film Festival Deanna Wong, Executive Director
Reel Canada Jack Blum, Executive Director
Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) John Rowley, President\u00a0
Screen Nova Scotia Laura Mackenzie, Executive Director
ScreenSask Robert Hardy, Executive Director
Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des auteur.e.trice.s de radio, t\u00e9l\u00e9vision et cin\u00e9ma (SARTEC) Laurent Dubois, Directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral
St. John\u2019s International Women\u2019s Film Festival Jenn Brown, Executive Director
UNIFOR Lana Payne, President
Vancouver International Film Festival\u00a0(VIFF) Kyle Fostner, Executive Director
Whistler Film Festival Josh Epstein, Executive Director
Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) Victoria Shen, Executive Director\u00a0
Youth Media Alliance France A. Martin, Executive Director<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Canada\u2018s biggest screen organizations want assurance \u2013 and quickly. The country\u2019s writers and directors unions, top screen bodies…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":166660,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[17,53591,111,22768,53592,53593],"class_list":["post-166659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-canada","tag-directors-guild-of-canada","tag-mark-carney","tag-online-streaming-act","tag-streaming-levy","tag-writers-guild-of-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}