Canada cultural groups oppose streaming contribution cut

Dozens of Canadian cultural sector organizations, including the Canadian Media Producers Association, are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney not to scrap rules requiring foreign streaming companies like Netflix to make financial contributions toward Canadian content. The government has promised to replace the 15-per-cent contributions with direct government funding, but the groups argue that this is not a substitute. They note that the $600 million in annual funding is not legally enforceable and can be changed through the federal budget, unlike a CRTC-regulated contribution regime. After the Canada — Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission increased contributions for large streaming services to 15 per cent, the government said in June it would issue a new policy directive to the CRTC and instead provide direct annual funding. The government later stated in a court document that it would eliminate the financial contribution requirement for streamers.