TORONTO—Unifor applauds the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)’s decision to proceed with developing rules that will ensure Canadian programming is available and visible on online streaming services. At the same time, the union is also calling on the federal government to also immediately move ahead with implementing the contributions requirements for digital streamers.
The Commission’s decisive move comes after the issue played a significant role in ending trade talks with the U.S.
“Global streaming companies that profit from Canadian audiences must also contribute to the Canadian broadcasting system and help audiences find Canadian stories,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The CRTC has said it will move forward with regulatory proceedings to determine how individual streaming services will be required to will be required to promote and make Canadian programming discoverable to users. The process implements the Online Streaming Act, which requires streaming services operating in Canada to support access to Canadian programming, including French-language content.
“Strong, enforceable and transparent discoverability rules are essential,” added Payne.
“Canadian content cannot be technically available but effectively buried. The rules must lead to meaningful visibility for Canadian productions and create more job opportunities for the skilled workers who make them.”
Unifor’s media sector has advocated for years for enforceable federal policies to address the crisis facing Canada’s media landscape, including the Digital Services Tax, the Online Streaming Act and the Online News Act. These measures were intended to ensure companies benefiting from access to the Canadian market contributed to the system that supports Canadian stories, journalism and media jobs.
The union continues to support the Online Streaming Act and the Online News Act.
Unifor is urging the federal government and the CRTC to move ahead without delay in implementing the contribution requirements for digital streamers as per the Online Streaming Act, ensuring the final framework includes clear obligations, measurable outcomes, and effective enforcement.
The union will continue to advocate for rules that strengthen Canadian and Indigenous production, protect Canada’s cultural sovereignty, and encourage and sustain good jobs across Canada’s media sector.