CMPA defends Online Streaming Act as it comes to Parliament

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is coming to Ottawa for a day of lobbying senior stakeholders about the group’s concerns — many of which centre on the fate of the Online Streaming Act. Over 30 meetings have been scheduled for April 14, Reynolds Mastin, the organization’s president, tells The Wire Report. The CMPA is meeting with MPs from all parties, as well as senior bureaucrats at Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), Global Affairs Canada, and Canadian Heritage. “The most important topic for us will be ensuring that we continue to defend the Online Streaming Act,” Mastin remarked. At the last gettogether in 2025, then-heritage minister Steven Guilbeault (Laurier–St Marie, Que.) vowed that cultural industries would not be on the table when free trade negotiations with Mexico and the United States begin later this summer. Guilbeault has been replaced by Marc Miller (Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs, Que.), who has suggested the Online Streaming Act could be part of bilateral discussions, as reported by other news outlets. However, Mastin sees continuity in the government outlook despite the change in ministers. “We are very confident that continues to be the government position and we think that the polling data that we just released further underscores that Canadians are behind that position,” he states. “They understand what’s at stake when it comes to defending the Online Streaming Act.” Those stakes include thousands of jobs in the sector, he says, as well as the issue of cultural sovereignty. But Mastin adds that the CMPA is impressed by Miller’s handling of the portfolio. “He asks a lot of very smart questions,” he reports. “The industry has very much appreciated his engagement since his appointment.” The president says the new minister has been “excellent” and taken a very thoughtful approach to the job. By the time the CMPA arrived in Ottawa, the Liberal government was celebrating its return to majority status, having swept three by-elections on Monday. Mastin does not believe the strengthened mandate is likely to have any effect on the lobby group’s efforts. Even as a minority government, cabinet renewed funding for the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada. Mastin hopes it will take up the challenge of revising the mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada. ppark@thewirereport.ca

CMPA defends Online Streaming Act as it comes to Parliament

Broadcast |
By Paul Park
|April 14, 2026

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

CMPA defends Online Streaming Act as it comes to Parliament

Broadcast | By Paul Park |April 14, 2026

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Live from CTV, it’s Saturday Night! Bell nabs SNL broadcasting rights

Support for Online Streaming Act crosses party lines amidst trade uncertainty: poll

Q&A: National Film Board chair wants her organization’s productions to air on CBC

Related Stories

Directors Guild census shows strong racial, gender diversity

Canada-U.S. trade, AI top concerns for media industry players at Prime Time

‘Adoption will happen’: Solomon tells cultural industry to brace for AI revolution

Producers challenge 20 per cent copyright threshold in new CanCon policy

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Broadcast |
By Paul Park
|April 14, 2026