Cultural sector concerned about lack of news on Ottawa’s promised $600M

In 2024, the CRTC made an initial order under the Online Streaming Act requiring large streaming companies like Netflix to pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to funds devoted to producing Canadian content, including local TV news. In May, it increased that requirement to 15 per cent.

In June, the federal government changed course. It told the CRTC to review the recent decision to regulate online streamers and said the government would instead provide funding directly to Canadian content producers. Those financial contributions from streamers were already on hold because of an ongoing court challenge.

While the government cited affordability for consumers as the main reason for the move, Culture Minister Marc Miller also said at the time the industry was suffering while money for Canadian content was frozen by litigation.

Four months later, the government still isn’t saying when it will provide the new direction to the CRTC or disburse the $600 million. That has left the sector without either payments from streamers or the promised government funding.

Hélène Messier, president and CEO of the Association québécoise de la production médiatique, said the government described the situation as urgent back in June.

“And it is urgent. The situation in the audiovisual industry is very bad,” she said, noting a significant decrease in the volume of production in recent years.

“We want to know where we stand.”

Canadian content contributions and rules for streamers became a flashpoint in trade talks with the United States over the summer.

“[Prime Minister Mark Carney] said that culture and French language was so important that it was one of the reasons why they ended the negotiation with the Americans,” Messier said.

“So now I think they have to act accordingly. If it is important, then do something.”

It’s not clear what exactly was at issue during the trade talks. Carney pointed to the visibility of Canadian content on streaming services, while U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said the issue for the U.S. is streaming companies having to make financial contribution toward Canadian content.

The Online Streaming Act says streamers should ensure “discoverability” of Canadian programs, including French language content.

A spokesperson for the culture minister declined to answer when asked when the new policy direction and the $600 million will be released. The spokesperson also did not answer when asked whether the new policy direction to the CRTC is on hold until there is a trade agreement with the U.S.

Reynolds said he’s getting phone calls almost daily from producers asking about the status of the government funding.

“A number of shows were waiting for that funding to materialize months ago, and they’re still waiting,” he said.

Messier said the delay will make it more difficult to spend the money this fiscal year.

“You cannot do a production tomorrow morning. It’s a long process to be able to spend the money wisely,” she said.

Reynolds said a show takes months of planning between getting the green light and going into production.

“Studio space has to be secured. Locations… the cast has to secured,” he said. “The longer the delay, the longer it is before new shows actually get produced, let alone make it onto screens in Canada and around the world.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Cultural sector concerned about lack of news on Ottawa’s promised $600M

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