TORONTO – For the sake of Canada’s broadcast industry and content producers, Internet broadcasters like Netflix cannot be exempted from broadcast regulation any longer, says the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) in its submission for Heritage Minister Joly’s Canadian Content in a Digital World consultations.
“Our system of balanced regulation has created a world-class industry – if new Internet-based broadcasters don’t have to play by the same rules, this system won’t work in the future,” said national executive director Stephen Waddell, in a statement. “Netflix hauls $620 million out of the country every year without paying a dime in sales tax or having any obligation to contribute to our country’s production ecosystem. This has to change.”
Other recommendations from ACTRA’s submission include:
– “Maintaining core policies and putting creators at the heart of the process. The key principles of the Broadcasting Act remain maintaining a sound foundation for government audiovisual policymaking, including in the digital world. While the digital age poses new challenges, the solution is not to use less Canadian creative talent – but the opposite. We should celebrate and support Canadian creative talent and give them the tools to succeed.
– Embracing our diversity as a competitive advantage in the digital world. Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world. We should embrace this diversity. Canada’s screen-based industries are far better positioned to tackle inequality in the recorded media industries than any other country in the world.”
The full submission is available to download here. ACTRA represents the interests of 23,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada.
