CRTC approves Quebec screen industry groups to receive Online Streaming Act contributions

The CRTC has decided two Quebec screen industry groups are eligible to receive contributions from the Online Streaming Act. According to two letters dated March 27, the approved applicants were the Quebec English-Language Production Council (QEPC), and Coalition M.É.D.I.A. QEPC, an organization acting as a voice for Quebec English-language producers, creators, and industry partners in the film and television industry, applied to have its Vox Fund certified as an independent production fund. Coalition M.É.D.I.A., which promotes equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility for professionals from underrepresented Francophone communities in Canada, also had its M.É.D.I.A. fund approved as an independent production fund. Both funds are now able to receive and administer contributions from broadcasting distribution undertakings and receive contributions through tangible benefits packages. Both funds are also eligible to receive base contributions from online audiovisual undertakings to support producers from official language minorities and diverse communities. However, both letters also noted “there is no guarantee that eligible certified independent production funds (CIPFs) will receive contributions from online undertakings, which will have the flexibility to decide to which specific eligible CIPFs they wish to contribute for the purpose of meeting their base contribution funding obligations.” The commission’s letter argued that the research conducted by QEPC’s Vox Fund “departs too significantly from the traditional mandate of CIPFs,” thus no funding provided to Vox Fund can be used to administer or operate a research program. The commission also approved Vox Fund’s proposal to allocate a maximum of 10 per cent of its funding to “initiatives that do not directly relate to audiovisual programming, such as development, training and mentorship programs, and/or discoverability initiatives.” The letter said such initiatives are not directly related to audiovisual programming, but “they strengthen content creation, professional skills, promotion, and monetization within the audiovisual sector.” As for Coalition M.É.D.I.A., before its fund will be added to the list of CIPFs, it must first satisfy the condition of approval. The letter said the fund must file with the commission a copy of its certificate of incorporation demonstrating the fund has been duly incorporated, and that it must file a signed copy of its by-laws with the commission. The Wire Report reached out to both Coalition M.É.D.I.A. and QEPC for comment but did not immediately receive a response. mcollins@thewirereport.ca

CRTC approves Quebec screen industry groups to receive Online Streaming Act contributions

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By Maria Collins
|March 31, 2026

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CRTC approves Quebec screen industry groups to receive Online Streaming Act contributions

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