Policy and advocacy

The CMPA advocates for Canada’s independent producers, helping to shape policies that will support the vitality of our industry.

Government relations

Contact

Emily Holtby
Director, Government & Policy Affairs
Office: 1-613-688-0946 /
Mobile: 1-613-799-4708
emily.holtby@cmpa.ca

As the face of Canada’s independent media production industry, the CMPA works to promote the value of our sector to federal and provincial governments.

We regularly meet with government officials to advocate on critical issues to our industry, such as broadcasting, funding, copyright, taxation and trade. We participate in government consultations, appear before parliamentary committees, and undertake research to help government make informed decisions. To find past submissions to the federal government, go to our resource library and select the category “government submissions.”

The CMPA also regularly meets and communicates with elected officials, political staff and senior officials in government departments such as Canadian Heritage, Finance Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

We also engage with Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and provincial funding bodies on the funding of Canadian content.

What’s new?

Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel, Responding to the New Environment: A Call for Comments

Comments of the Canadian Media Producers Association

 

 

Download the CMPA’s BTLR submission→ 

Related research

Buyer Power in Canadian TV: An Examination of the Domestic Market Structure for the Purchase and Sale of Canadian-produced English Language TV Programming

Prepared by Wall Communications Inc. for the Canadian Media Producers Association

Impact of the 2003 Communications Act on UK Indie Producers

Report presented to the Canadian Media Producers Association by Olsberg•SPI

The impact of Terms of Trade on the UK’s television content production sector

A report for the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) by Oliver & Ohlbaum

Modelling a new broadcasting distribution system financial contribution framework for Canadian audiovisual content

Prepared for the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) in partnership with: Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA); Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM); and Directors Guild of Canada (DGC).


Regulatory

The CMPA represents the interests of Canadian independent producers in regulatory affairs, including before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Our goal is to maintain and improve upon Canada’s regulatory environment, so that independent producers are given every opportunity to thrive.

The CRTC regulates and supervises Canada’s broadcasting system, as mandated in the federal government’s Broadcasting Act. According to the Act, each element of the broadcasting system must contribute to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming, and must include a significant amount of programming from the Canadian independent production sector.

The CRTC engages in policy proceedings to set Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications policies and regulations, and Canadian broadcasters apply to the CRTC for approval of new television licences, renewals and acquisitions. The CMPA intervenes in these proceedings to ensure that the perspective of Canadian independent producers is heard.

To find past CRTC submissions filed by the CMPA, go to our resource library and select the category “CRTC submissions.”

What’s new

CMPA statement on joint open letter by Bell Media, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Media

OTTAWA, August 3, 2017—In a rebuttal letter published in yesterday’s Hill Times, Canada’s English-language private broadcasters (Bell Media, Corus Entertainment and Rogers Media) contested the facts of a joint open letter published a week earlier on July 24th by a coalition of 19 groups representing Canada’s screen-based media industry.

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Joint open letter to Minister Mélanie Joly regarding CRTC decisions

OTTAWA, July 24, 2017—Thousands of Canadians who value Canadian content or who work in the independent television production industry are deeply concerned about the recent CRTC licence renewal decisions for the English-language television groups.

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Canada’s independent producers, performers and directors petition Minister Joly to reject CRTC decision

OTTAWA, June 29, 2017—Today the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) submitted a joint petition to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, asking her to set aside, or refer back, the CRTC’s Group Licence Renewal decisions for Canada’s large television broadcasters, released last month.

Read more →

Related research

An International Comparative Study

How National Content is Defined in Canada and Selected Countries for the Purpose of Providing Access to Public Support (December 2015)


Business affairs

The CMPA represents the interests of independent producers in their dealings with funders, broadcasters, distributors and VOD companies.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Ownership and retention of intellectual property
  • Development and production strategies
  • Licensing conditions
  • Editorial control
  • Rights
  • Equity and recoupment
  • Producer tax credits
  • Delivery and exploitation
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