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MP Report

Your Netflix may cost you more

11/4/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
​One of the oldest tactics of government is to release potentially unpopular or embarrassing information late on a Friday afternoon. 

This was a tactic to attempt to avoid the daily Monday-Friday print media cycle in the hopes that by Monday, different stories might take up the headlines.

In the days of social media, and the widespread use of the internet, governments have had to become more innovative in how they release information that may be unpopular or embarrassing.

Case in point on Tuesday, when many Canadians were closely watching the USA election unfold, the Trudeau Liberal Government released the details of their proposed Bill C-10 -- “An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act”.

For those who subscribe to streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and other non-Canadian based streaming services, this bill may be of interest to you.

Bill C-10 proposes that these non-Canadian online streaming services be forced to “contribute to the creation, production, and distribution of Canadian music and stories.”

The Liberal Government has suggested this could result in these streaming companies paying as much as $880 million into what the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decides is "approved content" within this mandate.

For critics this raises a few notable concerns.

Many believe that consumers should have the choice to decide what shows and music they subscribe to and download, not content forced onto them by the CRTC.

Many have also predicted any costs, above and beyond what is already invested into creating Canadian content, will simply be passed onto to consumers in the form of higher fees.

Another path streaming companies could take, instead of charging more, is to offer less content.

Rather than fund newly mandated Canadian content, some platforms may respond to new regulations by simply dropping their amount of total content available to stream, in order to artificially raise their amount of Canadian content. 

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is reported as saying he does not expect that forcing streaming services to pay as much as $880 million annually to support this mandatory content will lead to higher subscription costs or potentially less content for customers.

So who does the Minister believe will pay?

Supporters of this bill point out that Canadian based companies providing these types of services are already forced to comply with this Canadian content requirement, as dictated by the CRTC, and argue this simply levels the playing field.

My question this week:

Do you support the CRTC dictating to online streaming companies, such as Netflix, how much mandatory Canadian content they must offer at the expense of Canadian consumers?

I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. 
4 Comments
Crackmacs link
11/4/2020 02:44:53 pm

Oh man, pls no. Have enough of that on the airwaves.

Reply
Lolly
11/4/2020 04:04:07 pm

OK honestly..we are so sick of Trudeau and all Liberals never mind MSM .I DON'T CARE ABOUT APOLOGIES BY THESE CORRUPT SOB'S WE NEED ACTION. I MEAN IT IS a PRETTY DAM SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN CANADIANS HAVE MORE PATRIOTISM AND AFFECTION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN THERE OWN GOV'T! WE NEED ACTION..AND WE REALLY NEED IT NOW! SORRY I DIGRESS..IF PEOPLE ARE STREAMING NETFLIX ETC ITS PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ENOUGH QUALITY CANADIAN PROGRAMMING..LETS KREEP IT REAL

Reply
Jen
11/20/2020 10:40:09 am

I support the initiative to require Canadian content on these streaming services. I also believe that publicly funded broadcasting services, that are free from corporate interests and which are willing to hold governments (from across the political spectrum) to account, are an essential ingredient in a strong democracy. It's heartbreaking to see the polarization of American news. We should continue to support and promote high quality, uniquely Canadian content through CBC. I am a "swing voter" and, depending on the topic, can easily align with politics on both sides of center. As such, I urge both conservatives and liberals to continue to their support for our national broadcasting service. We should look to BBC and the Economist as our model of intelligent debate and not allow ourselves to be engulfed by by content produced, exclusively, by privately held and biased American conglomerates. Don't get me wrong - I am a loyal fan of Netflix and Spotify and Disney and Amazon Prime. I happily pay for each of these services and enjoy the content - but it is also important to me that we carve a space out for publicly funded Canadian content and a continue to fund a strong and healthy CBC.

Reply
Oregon TS Hookups link
12/17/2022 07:56:19 pm

Hi nnice reading your blog

Reply



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    Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament  for the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
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