Dozens of Canadian cultural sector organizations are calling on 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 15-per-cent contributions with government funding, but the groups say that is no substitute.
A letter to Carney signed by multiple organizations, including the Canadian Media Producers Association, says the $600 million in annual funding is not the same as legally enforceable contributions.
It says that, unlike a CRTC-regulated contribution regime, government funding can be changed through the federal budget.
After the CRTC 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 the industry with direct annual funding.
The government later said in a court document it would “eliminate” the financial contribution requirement for streamers.
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