Politics · Canada · 1 hr ago
Canada has not ruled out future payments by streamers for Canadian content
Canada has not ruled out future required payments by streaming services to support Canadian content.
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently said a tax on big tech companies was not necessary, but it is unclear whether he was referring to streamer contributions.
In June, the Liberal government said it wanted the CRTC to drop its contribution requirement and planned to provide $600 million a year for Canadian content instead.
The federal budget set aside that amount only for this fiscal year, and Culture Minister Marc Miller says future government funding is not guaranteed.
Miller says the government will ask the CRTC to set minimums for streamers to invest in Canadian content, potentially through their own productions and funds.
The CRTC’s rules are part of a trade dispute with the United States, which has objected to the requirements under Canada’s Online Streaming Act.
The government says details will follow a new policy directive to the CRTC.
Canada has not ruled out requiring streaming platforms to make financial contributions to Canadian content in future.
The federal government said in June it wanted the CRTC to withdraw its contribution requirement and announced $600 million in annual direct funding instead.
The budget allocated $600 million for the current fiscal year, but a government spokesperson said future funding could vary.
Culture Minister Marc Miller said the government would ask the CRTC to set minimums for streamers’ investment in Canadian content.
The Motion Picture Association — Canada said Miller’s comments were concerning and confusing.
- Who
- The federal government, including Culture Minister Marc Miller, and streaming platforms are at the centre of the issue.
- What
- The government has not ruled out future financial contributions by streamers to Canadian content.
- When
- The article was published on November 14, 2026. Miller made comments about the issue that week.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The government says streamers should contribute to Canadian content, but it has not clarified whether future contributions will be required.
Federal government
Motion Picture Association — Canada
Funding approach
Federal government
Marc Miller said the government would ask the CRTC to set minimums for streamers’ investment in Canadian content.
Motion Picture Association — Canada
The association said Miller’s comments were concerning and confusing.
Streamers’ contribution
Federal government
Miller said streamers would need to invest in Canadian content, potentially through their own spending and funds.
Motion Picture Association — Canada
The association said global studios and streamers invest $5.3 billion a year making movies and series in Canada with Canadian creators and talent.
The Liberals said they wanted the CRTC to withdraw its contribution requirement and announced $600 million in annual direct funding.
Ottawa cited U.S. demands concerning Canadian content visibility among the reasons it ended trade talks with the United States.
Marc Miller said streamers would need to invest in Canadian content and that the government would ask the CRTC to establish minimums.
BNN Bloomberg reported that the government had not clarified whether future streamer contributions were off the table.
- Direct funding announced
- $600 million annually
- Current fiscal year allocation
- $600 million
- Minister
- Marc Miller
- Regulator
- CRTC
- Industry association estimate
- $5.3 billion a year invested by global studios and streamers in Canadian productions
1 source
What people are saying
We will be asking the CRTC to establish some strict minimums that these streamers have to observe by if they want to do business in Canada, in making sure that they’re investing, on their own balance sheet, into Canadian content
So I can’t guarantee every year that it’ll be $600 (million) from the federal government, but in one way or another, there will be money going into the ecosystem.
definitely concerning and confusing
invest $5.3 billion a year making movies and series in Canada with Canadian creators and talent.