Picture © Andrej Lišakov

The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, whose 54 members represent more than 360,000 creators and 2,900 companies in the Canadian cultural sector, emphasizes that an important step towards platform regulation was taken yesterday with the publication of the final policy direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CRTC now has everything it needs to develop a modern regulatory framework that will ensure that all broadcasting undertakings operating in Canada contribute to the promotion and financing of our programs, films and music.

“Online audio and audiovisual companies are now essential players in ensuring the diversity of Canadian cultural expressions. We welcome the recent modernization of the Broadcasting Act, and look forward to measuring the concrete impact of this important step forward,” said Coalition co-chair Hélène Messier.

On November 20, the CRTC will begin a decisive step in establishing these regulations: public hearings to determine the contributions that conventional broadcasters and online streaming services will be required to make to support Canadian and Indigenous content over the next few years. Crucial processes will continue to be held regularly over the next two years to implement the entire regulatory package, including the measures to be adopted for content enhancement. Several CDCE members will be making their voices heard during these processes.

Finally, the CDCE would like to congratulate Stéphanie Paquette on her appointment to the position of CRTC Regional Commissioner for Quebec. This position had been vacant for several months, at a pivotal moment in the history of Canadian broadcasting.