April 13, 2026, Toronto, ON – A recent survey conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights on behalf of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) reveals that 83 per cent of Canadians support the Online Streaming Act (OSA), demonstrating strong cross-partisan and regional consensus for the legislation. ​

The OSA, passed in 2023, requires foreign streaming companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ to invest a portion of their Canadian revenues into the production of Canadian shows and movies, similar to the obligations of traditional domestic broadcasters. ​

Key Findings

• Canadians support the OSA across political lines, including 94 per cent of Liberal voters, 85 per cent of NDP voters, 65 per cent of Conservative voters, and in Quebec, 95 per cent of Bloc voters. Among undecided voters, 90 per cent say they back the OSA. 
• Support is consistently strong across the country, with 81 per cent in British Columbia, 77 per cent in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 84 per cent in Ontario, 88 per cent in Quebec and 79 per cent in the Atlantic provinces.

“These results show that Canadians understand the importance of defending Canada’s cultural sovereignty and our digital future”, said Reynolds Mastin, President and CEO, CMPA.  “Standing up for the Online Streaming Act is standing up for Canada, and doing so will ensure more Canadian stories are produced for the screen, and that the sector will create jobs and drive long-term economic growth.”

Canadian sovereignty and US trade negotiations

Looking ahead to upcoming trade negotiations with the US, the poll found that Canadians believe it is important that the federal government protect the OSA and stand up for digital sovereignty.

• Seventy-three per cent of Canadians believe that the Government of Canada should stand firm on its cultural policies and digital sovereignty, even if it complicates trade negotiations with the United States. ​
• Seventy-four per cent of Canadians are concerned about foreign technology companies having significant control over the content Canadians see online.
• Seventy-three per cent of Canadians agree that Canada has the right to set the rules for digital platforms operating within its borders, even if those companies are headquartered abroad. ​

Methodology

Online survey of a random sample of 2,410 Adult (18+) Canadian residents, conducted between February 19 and 24, 2026. Respondents were recruited from the Canadian Viewpoints online research panel.

A margin of error cannot be assigned to online surveys. As a guideline, a probability sample of this size carries a margin of error of ± 2.0%, 19 times out of 20. Data has been weighted using the most current age, gender, region, and education Census data to ensure the sample reflects the actual population of adult Canadians. The full study is available here.

About the CMPA:

The Canadian Media Producers Association is the national advocacy organization for independent producers, representing hundreds of companies engaged in the development, production, and distribution of English-language content made for television, cinema, and digital media channels. For more than 75 years, the CMPA has worked to promote the continued success of the Canadian production sector and to ensure a bright future for the diverse content made by our members for both domestic and international audiences. cmpa.ca

About Pollara Strategic Insights: ​

Pollara Strategic Insights is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) and adheres to the highest standards of research integrity and transparency. ​

For media inquiries, please contact:

CMPA
Gamiela Fereg
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications, CMPA
gamiela.fereg@cmpa.ca

Pollara
Dan Arnold
Pollara Strategic Insights, Chief Strategy Officer
danarnold@pollara.com