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

Cultural sector groups say they’re starting to worry about the Liberal government’s silence on $600 million in promised funding.

"Funding that was supposed to reduce uncertainty is actually now leading to greater uncertainty, because we don't know when it's going to materialize," said Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the Canadian Media Producers Association.

"It's critical that it be delivered as soon as possible."

The Liberal government introduced the Online Streaming Act in 2023 to bring streaming companies into the long-standing standing system that requires cable companies and broadcasters to contribute to or broadcast Canadian content. The funding from traditional players has shrunk as Canadians increasingly move to streaming platforms.

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 the requirement to 15 per cent.

In June, the federal government changed course, telling the CRTC to review the recent decision to regulate online streamers, and saying 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 its 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 in 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 there has been 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.

"[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."

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

By Anja Karadeglija | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.