TORONTO and MONTREAL – The Canada Media Fund said Monday it is starting the process of making changes to its funding programs that will take a platform-agnostic approach to supporting content creators, in lockstep with the federal government’s modernization of the broadcasting industry via the Online Streaming Act.
“After several years of calls for change from the industry we proudly support, the Department of Canadian Heritage has unlocked new authorities for the CMF to administer our funding and programs moving forward,” reads a CMF press release.
“As the CRTC undertakes its process to determine a new regulatory framework and Canadian Heritage initiates their work to modernize the country’s audiovisual industry, the CMF is embracing an evolving role that will bolster the growth and resilience of our industry from coast to coast to coast,” the release adds.
“The CMF has played a valuable and key role for Canadian content production for more than a decade,” said Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge, in a statement. “We have been listening to the industry’s feedback and understand the need for a more flexible and content-focused support model to respond to the sector’s needs and ongoing transformation. These new authorities will provide the CMF with a modern, more agile funding approach to ensure it remains an integral part of a competitive and resilient Canadian audiovisual sector for years to come.”
The CMF says in the release it will collaborate closely with Canadian Heritage to create the program changes, which will include:
- New opportunities in program criteria to reflect the many ways content is created
- A move away from the siloed approach of convergent and experimental streams
- Better alignment with the evolving market and regulations
- Advancing an inclusive and sustainable industry through expanded sector development
- A renewed focus on financing all phases of audiovisual content across platforms
“I want to thank the many members of Canada’s audiovisual industry who have shared their insights over the years. These new authorities and upcoming program changes that will support the broader audiovisual sector are a direct result of your feedback and advocacy,” said Valerie Creighton, CMF’s president and CEO.
“I also want to thank Minister Rodriguez for his dedication to our sector and welcome Minister St-Onge for supporting us in seeing our new mandate through. The CMF’s priority will continue to be putting Canadian and Indigenous stories first — stories that represent who we are and who we aspire to be.”
The CMF says it “is committed to an informed and collaborative industry-first approach to our work, which includes extensive consultation and engagement, from individual creators to small and large production companies to broadcasters, distributors, and platforms.”
Changes to the CMF’s programs will be phased in over the next two fiscal years, it says.
“In addition to the upcoming consultations, which will begin later this fall, we will also draw on the valuable feedback we have received from the industry over many years of consultations,” the release says.
