CHPC meeting 4 · 2025-10-01 — Committee Evidence — LegisWatch

Summary

The Canadian Heritage committee met to study the implementation of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) and heard from Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), along with Scott Shortliffe, Vice-President of Broadcasting, and Scott Hutton, Vice-President of Consumer, Analytics and Strategy.

Vicky Eatrides outlined the CRTC's progress in implementing the Online Streaming Act, noting that the commission has launched 15 public consultations, held four public hearings, and issued seven decisions so far. She highlighted a key decision requiring online streaming services to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenue—estimated at $200 million annually—to support areas of immediate need, including local news, French-language content, and Indigenous content. She also noted that the CRTC is working to promote competition and affordability in telecommunications, citing a 16.7% decrease in cellphone service prices between 2023 and 2024.

Scott Shortliffe addressed concerns about local news, explaining that the CRTC has expanded the independent local news fund and created a new commercial radio news fund to support news operations outside major centres. He acknowledged that the base contribution decision is currently under a court-ordered stay, with streaming companies having sought a legal challenge, and that no money has yet been distributed from that fund. He disagreed with the characterization that the CRTC is simply taking money from successful streamers to prop up traditional broadcasters, arguing instead that the goal is to ensure Canadian content is discoverable and that all parts of the industry contribute equitably.

Scott Hutton discussed the CRTC's approach to supporting Canadian music and content, noting that traditional radio and cable revenues have declined over the years, which motivated the new contributions from streamers. He explained that the CRTC has set up engagement teams to consult with Indigenous, official-language minority, and equity-seeking communities, and that the commission verifies streaming companies' revenue data through multiple sources. He also addressed concerns about infrastructure sharing in telecommunications, stating that the CRTC has put measures in place to ensure companies can still invest in network maintenance.

The committee also briefly approved two operational budgets: $500 for the meeting on the Online Streaming Act and $30,500 for an upcoming study on the effects of artificial intelligence on the creative industries.

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Witnesses · 3

Vicky Eatrides

Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Opening remarks

Thank you very much, and good afternoon. Thank you for having us here with you today. I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. As mentioned, I am joined by the Scotts today. Scott Shortliffe is our head of broadcasting, and Scott Hutton is head of consumer, analytics and strategy. We are very pleased to be here to update the committee on the implementation of the Online Streaming Act. Before getting into committee members' questions, perhaps I could share a brief overview of the CRTC, some of the work we are doing, and some of the detail on our progress. I'll start with a quick overview of the CRTC. As you know, the CRTC is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the communications sector in the public interest. We hold public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters, and we make decisions based on the public record. The commission consists of nine members. There is a chairperson, a vice-chair for broadcasting, a vice-chair for telecommunications, and six regional members who are located across the country. The commission is supported by a team…

Full testimony ↗

Scott Shortliffe

Vice-President, Broadcasting, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Opening remarks

Perhaps I'll answer, sir. The decision was that they have to contribute 5% of their annual revenue. We estimated that it is roughly $200 million. Of course, it will change from year to year. When we made that decision, we asked that the amounts be paid out by the end of the broadcast year, which would have been the end of August this year. The streaming companies did seek a stay in court, which they have a perfect right to do. The court granted it. We are waiting for the Federal Court of Appeal to rule on the issues they've raised. Until that decision is made, the money has not actually flowed into the system completely, so we cannot give a complete account of whether it is $200 million or a bit more or a bit less, although we will be doing that once that issue is resolved.

Canadian Heritage

Summary

Witnesses · 3

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