Miller softens Ottawa’s language on Online Streaming Act

Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller is weakening his government’s commitment that cultural policies would not be part of bilateral trade negotiations with the U.S., as President Donald Trump’s administration zeroes in on the Online Streaming Act. At a reception hosted by the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) on April 14, Miller told a room of cultural stakeholders the Liberal government would “defend the culture that makes us who we are and is the… heartbeat of our country.” “ has hit some bumps that we are all aware of and is affecting the industry,” Miller (Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs, Que.) told attendees at the National Arts Centre. “But we’ll continue to fight for it… and we’ll continue to defend that at the negotiating table.” Multiple people in the room told The Wire Report that Miller’s tone marked a noticeable departure from his predecessor Steven Guilbeault’s comments during last year’s event. “Let me be crystal clear: as Canada works out its new trade relationship with the U.S., culture is not and will not be on the table,” said Guilbeault (Laurier–Sainte-Marie, Que.) on Oct. 7. The Online Streaming Act, introduced by Justin Trudeau’s government in 2022, requires large streaming companies, including Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., and Spotify AB to allocate a portion of Canadian revenues to the production of domestic news and entertainment media. Several U.S.-based streamers have challenged the legislation in Canadian court, which issued a stay on funding directives (though various companies have already started making payments), but has yet to render a final decision. On April 14, Miller said the legislation is intended to “make sure people are getting a fair shake in this country.” “We want you to know that we’ll keep helping you do by defending you in our trade negotiations,” he told the room full of producers, union leaders and media association representatives. Jamieson Greer, Trump’s top trade representative, has identified the Online Streaming Act as an “irritant” in trade discussions ahead of the scheduled review of North America’s free trade agreement. The law was also mentioned in Greer’s 2026 National Trade Estimate Report, presented to Trump and Congress last month. Miller has previously said the Online Streaming Act and Online News Act are part of a series of measures that will be discussed at the negotiating table with the U.S., as reported by other news outlets. The CMPA event was held after the organization’s annual lobbying day on Parliament Hill, during which the group met with MPs from all major parties, as well as senior bureaucrats. CMPA president Reynolds Mastin told The Wire Report the organization’s major focus was protecting the Online Streaming Act, which he also described as a popular political move, pointing to new polling commissioned by the advocacy group. Among those in attendance at the evening reception included Guilbeault, newly-minted NDP Leader Avi Lewis, NDP MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, Alta.), Liberal MP Dominique O’Rourke (Guelph, Ont.), Conservative MP Kerry Diotte (Edmonton Griesbach, Alta.), Andréanne Larouche (Shefford, Que.), and Alberta Sen. Paula Simons. dlegree@thewirereport.ca

Miller softens Ottawa’s language on Online Streaming Act

Broadcast |
By Davis Legree
|April 15, 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

Miller softens Ottawa’s language on Online Streaming Act

Broadcast | By Davis Legree |April 15, 2026

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

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Is what you’re watching AI? You have the right to know, says House committee

CMPA defends Online Streaming Act as it comes to Parliament

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

Related Stories

CMPA defends Online Streaming Act as it comes to Parliament

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

Profitability rises despite revenue decline as Corus navigates advertising slump

LeBlanc ‘reassured’ audiovisual groups that cultural exemption won’t be part of CUSMA review: sources

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Broadcast |
By Davis Legree
|April 15, 2026