End the free ride for foreign web giants
Canada's outdated broadcasting laws are hurting Canadian Producers, broadcasters and stories
The Broadcasting Act was last updated over 30 years ago. That’s an eternity in the world of media production and broadcasting!
Three decades ago there was no home internet, were no streaming services, and VCRs were the height of on-demand technology.
Today, Canadian laws don’t apply to the foreign-based web giants and streaming services that operate over the internet like broadcasters. As a result, they siphon billions of dollars out of the country, without any requirement to invest back into the Canadian system.
Why pass the Online Streaming Act?
Updated broadcasting legislation in Canada will:
Strong and Independent
Support a Canadian production sector in control of our future, and not dependent on companies headquartered outside our borders
No Free Rides
Require foreign streaming services that make billions from Canadian subscribers to invest in Canadian productions
Level the Playing Field
Put Canadian companies on an equal footing with global web giants and streaming services
Invest in Diversity
Drive new investment that supports production from Indigenous, Black and other equity-seeking creators from across Canada
Support Choice
Give Canadian audiences a chance to discover Canadian shows, alongside the algorithm-promoted content pushed by foreign streamers
Our Country, Our Culture
Give Canadians control of our stories, which reflect the people and places of Canada
Download a PDF summarizing why the government must pass Bill C-11, as well as myths and facts about this Bill.
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MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN OTTAWA
Support the future of Canada’s media production sector. Use the tools below to urge government officials to pass the Online Streaming Act.
Please fill in your information below and click “SEND LETTER”. Based on your address, the letter will be sent to your local Member of Parliament, members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and members of the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications.
SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Let’s set the record straight about why Canada needs to update our outdated broadcasting laws.
You can help support Canadian indie producers by sharing our message on social media.
Click on the Facebook and Twitter icons to share directly through those channels. You’ll have a chance to edit before you post to your feed.
Also, click on the download icon so you can share through your Linkedin, Instagram and other social networks.
The Move to Modernization
The Online Streaming Act is vital for Canada’s production sector, Canadian audiences, and our stories. Every plot needs a resolution. Track the progress toward passing this important legislation.
WE'RE PRODUCING MOMENTUM
Follow the latest activity and news as we continue to gain momentum and support for passing the Online Streaming Act.
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MYTHS AND FACTS
There is a lot of misinformation out there about the Online Streaming Act and the need to update Canada’s broadcasting legislation. We’ve identified some of the biggest myths and provided facts to set the record straight.
Canadians don’t want updated broadcasting legislation.
Canadians support a fair system that puts Canadian companies on an equal footing with the global web giants and streaming services operating in this county.
- 87% of Canadians believe that foreign-owned web companies such as Apple, Google, and Netflix should be required to play by the same rules as domestic broadcasters.
- 87% also believe government policy should support Canadian-owned and headquartered film and TV producers.*
* Between August 13-20, Pollara Strategic Insights surveyed a randomly-selected sample of 2,004 adult (18+) Canadians on their opinions on the Canadian film & television section, the Broadcasting Act and Canadian independent production. As a guideline, a probability sample of this size carries a margin of error of ± 2.2%, 19 times out of 20.insert polling source info]
Updating Canada’s broadcasting legislation means the government is trying to regulate the entire internet.
Updated broadcasting legislation would only apply to broadcasting activities that have migrated online.
A helpful analogy: In response to the shift to online banking, Canada updated federal banking laws and regulations to apply to relevant online financial service activities.
Updated broadcasting legislation will do the same for broadcasting activities that corporations now carry out over the internet.
When looked at through the lenses of everything that people can do over the internet today, the potential impact of the Online Streaming Act on the internet is microscopic.
Some streaming services say updates to broadcasting legislation and regulations will force them to raise prices on Canadian subscribers.
Year-after-year we see foreign streaming services increase subscription costs for Canadians, while federal broadcasting legislation becomes increasingly outdated.
The Online Streaming Act will ensure these companies invest a portion of their Canadian revenues back into the Canadian system, which will contribute to a strong, sustainable domestic industry that produces phenomenal content for Canada and the world.
Not all federal political parties support modernizing Canada’s broadcasting laws
The Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, and Greens have all stated in their 2021 federal election campaign platforms that the outdated Broadcasting Act needs to be updated for the benefit of Canadian companies, Canadian creators, and Canadian audiences.
Download a PDF of these Myths and Facts as well as info on why the government must pass Bill C-11.
Download PDFIndie Is...
Who makes the Canadian shows and movies you love? Canada’s independent media producers!
Have a favourite Canadian TV show? Chances are an indie producer made it.
Those Canadian films getting all the hype on the festival circuit? Again, it’s more than likely you’re hearing about an indie producer’s work.
ABOUT THE CMPA
We represent Canada’s independent media producers, the business owners based in cities and towns across Canada that make the Canadian shows and movies you love. Producers are the creative entrepreneurs and risk takers that serve as the key touchpoint for all creative, financial, and business decisions that make a TV or film project a success.
Today they are on the front lines of Canada’s changing media landscape. And without long-overdue updates to Canada’s federal broadcasting legislation, the Canadian industry is at risk of becoming become a whole lot less Canadian.