Canada’s broadcast regulator is considering implementing certain “requirements or incentives” that it says would help ensure streaming platforms promote Canadian and indigenous content both domestically and internationally, according to a
consultation document.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced on May 12 that it was launching
three consultations to receive public feedback on a number of its proposed updates to the Broadcasting Act in line with the Liberal government’s recently passed Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act.
The CRTC said the proposed new policies are aimed at modernizing Canada’s broadcasting system to ensure that “online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.”
One of the public consultations it launched seeks to garner Canadians’ opinions on what types and amount of
contributions online streaming services should be required to make in support of Canada’s broadcasting system as outlined by the Online Streaming Act.
The CRTC outlined the proposed new framework in a consultation
document titled “The Path Forward—Working towards a modernized regulatory framework regarding contributions to support Canadian and Indigenous content.”
The document said one of the framework’s objectives is ensuring that “both Canadian and international online undertakings participate in the support of Canadian and Indigenous audio and video content and have equitable access to those supports when creating this content.”
Another proposed objective says Ottawa should introduce “incentives and other regulatory measures” to “better support the creation and distribution of Canadian content by communities that are currently under-represented in the broadcasting system.”
The CRTC also says that “Canadian and Indigenous audio and video content” should be widely distributed and easily discoverable on streaming platforms both in Canada and internationally.
The consultation document poses a number of
questions and asks interested individuals to send comments by submitting an
intervention online.
One question asks how the CRTC can ensure “online undertakings make Canadian and Indigenous audio and video programming available in Canada and abroad.”
“What types of requirements or incentives would best optimize the distribution of Canadian and Indigenous content, both internationally and domestically?” it asks.
“How can the Commission ensure that Canadian and Indigenous content is discoverable and promoted on online platforms? What incentives can be applied?”
For
all three consultations, the CRTC is
accepting comments until June 12. Parties who file comments have until June 27 to reply to issues raised during the comment period. All who file comments will also have until July 12 to file a final reply to any replies received.
The broadcast regulator also issued notice of a public
hearing on the matter that will be held on
Nov. 20 in Gatineau, Que.
