St-Onge releases Streaming Act direction to CRTC

Tuesday Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge issued the final policy direction to the CRTC that will implement the Online Streaming Act. The bill was passed last spring and the commission has been holding consultations on the policy directions this summer. Over 500 comments were received by the regulator. “The Online Streaming Act will make sure Canadians can see themselves in the stories and music available in the new online reality and will reinvest in future generations of artists in Canada,” the department said in a news release. Online streamers are being asked to contribute to the creative and media sectors. The CRTC has been asked to support Canadian artists and creative industries; advance Indigenous storytelling; increase representation of equity-seeking groups; ensure regulations are equitable, fair and flexible; redefine Canadian programs; and exclude the content of social media and digital creators from regulations. “Canadian artists and musicians have a unique perspective,” St-Onge said in a statement. “Their creations inspire our imaginations, help us understand each other and shed light on important issues in our country. We are proud when we see and hear homegrown Canadian talent and stories, both because it’s amazing and because it’s Canadian.” CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides is looking forward to implementing the directives. “The new direction complements and enhances the CRTC’s efforts to modernize Canada’s regulatory framework,” she said in a release. “This includes launching public consultations and a three-week hearing that will start on November 20. This first hearing will consider the contributions online streaming services will need to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content.” Reaction was positive. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) issued a statement praising the moves. “We are pleased to see the government taking steps to address the inequities created by the unfettered access foreign online giants have to the Canadian market,” CAB president Kevin Desjardins said. “It is long past time that these foreign players contribute their fair share to help support the Canadian media ecosystem.” The association praised the notion that foreign platforms must make direct contributions to the Canadian marketplace. The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) similarly looked positively on the announcement. “ACTRA is optimistic that the directive to maximize the use of Canadian creative and human resources, if enforced correctly, will improve the working lives of ACTRA performers and help strengthen the Canadian screen industry in the years to come,” national president Eleanor Noble stated. When the bill was up for debate, the union worried that foreign companies got a better deal than their Canadian counterparts. The directives issued Tuesday corrected that view. Noble and executive director Marie Kelly will appear at a CRTC proceeding in December to give their assessment of the new rules. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

St-Onge releases Streaming Act direction to CRTC

Broadcast | November 14, 2023

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St-Onge releases Streaming Act direction to CRTC

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