Cultural groups urge Prime Minister Mark Carney to keep streaming‑service contributions for Canadian content

When you tune into a Netflix binge or scroll through Disney+, you’re probably not thinking about the money that’s supposed to flow back into Canada’s own film, TV and music scene. Yet, a rag‑tag coalition of cultural groups says that flow could soon dry up.

Dozens of organisations—from independent film societies in Vancouver to music‑rights collectives in Halifax—have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, begging him not to dismantle the Canadian‑content (CanCon) contribution rules that obligate foreign streaming giants to chip in financially.

“We get it, the market is changing,” says Marie‑Claude Tremblay, director of the Quebec‑based Arts Bridge. “But taking away the contribution requirement feels like pulling the rug out from under the very people who keep our stories alive.”

The rule in question was introduced by the CRTC in 2020, mandating that any non‑Canadian streaming platform with more than 10,000 Canadian subscribers allocate a percentage of their revenue to a fund that supports home‑grown content. In practice, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others have been putting money into the Canada Media Fund, which then finances everything from Indigenous documentaries to bilingual sitcoms.

Critics of the rule argue it is outdated, a relic of a pre‑pandemic era when traditional broadcasters dominated. The industry lobby pushing for repeal says the contributions are a “tax” that discourages foreign investment and stifles competition.

But the cultural sector paints a different picture. Without the contributions, many small‑budget projects could disappear, and the diversity of voices—especially from First Nations, Métis and Inuit creators—could be severely curtailed.

“It’s not just about dollars,” adds James O’Leary, CEO of the Toronto Film Alliance. “It’s about cultural sovereignty. If we let the money stop, the stories that reflect Canadian realities risk being drowned out by the same old Hollywood formulas.”

Prime Minister Carney, who took office last year, has so far stayed quiet on the matter. The letter, posted on the coalition’s website Monday, urges the PM to “recognise the vital role that streaming contributions play in preserving a vibrant, pluralistic cultural ecosystem.”

As the debate unfolds, the stakes are clear: either the contribution system stays, continuing to pour funds into Canadian creators, or it’s dismantled, potentially leaving a gaping funding void that could take years to fill.

For now, the cultural community is holding its breath, hoping the government will hear the clamor and keep the money flowing.