_{Brace yourselves, Canada! The Senate has finally given the green light to controversial Bill C-11, aka the Online Streaming Act, after years of heated debate. But is this a leap into the future or a plunge into the abyss for Canadian creators and consumers? We'll let you decide where you stand.}

The Pulse Results (25 Votes) 📈

Side A 8% - Bill C-11 will help protect both Canadian content & content creators

Side B 92% - Bill C-11 gives government too much control to censor content they don't agree with

Poll closed: May 13, 2023

Controversial bill to regulate online streaming becomes law

Published on: April 27, 2023
Published by: CBC News

If you haven't been following this story from the beginning or if politics isn't really your thing... you may be thinking, "Bill, who?" Don't worry, we're here to spill the tea. And trust us, it's piping hot.

Introducing Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, an upgraded version of the Broadcasting Act. Let's go back in time for a sec. The Broadcasting Act was established in 1991 to give the regulator know as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the power to regulate the Canadian broadcasting system, mainly CBC and Radio-Canada. The CRTC ensures that 35% of the content shared through these platforms is Canadian.

But, you know, the internet happened, and online streaming services shook things up. Enter Bill C-11. This bill acknowledges our love for these services but recognizes that many foreign companies stream into Canada without any regulations or obligation to support and distribute Canadian stories and music. And let's be real, who doesn't want to show some love to Canadian content?

This bill aims to regulate the content we see on our beloved devices by giving the CRTC the power to decide what is "Canadian enough" to appear on our feeds. They claim that updating the Broadcasting Act will promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring better representation for Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, cultural and linguistic minorities, LGBTQ2+ communities, and persons with disabilities. The goal is to reflect a 21st-century Canada through our culture and content. Sounds great, right?

So, what's the catch? Well, for starters, social media giants and streaming platforms aren't thrilled about it and Canadian content creators worry that they might see less engagement because the social media algorithms might change to display content based on location rather than interests, making it more difficult for them to reach larger audiences.

We promised you the tea... so here's the real controversy. There are a growing number of claims that Bill C-11 is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and that the way the bill is currently written gives control to the CRTC, as well as the Canadian government, to censor any content they don't like or agree with under the guise of it "not being Canadian enough".

What does that mean? Well, let's say "@JimmyTheHairGuru69" is a short-form content creator in the USA, or any country for that matter, and has something critical to say about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's hair. Whether Jimmy is speaking facts or not, all the CRTC would need to claim in order to suppress Jimmy's content from being distributed in Canada, is that it "doesn't qualify as Canadian content". Yikes.

All joking aside, a real time example of this is the current rumour around Canada banning Fox News.

Although Bill C-11 states that it's simply here to protect Canadian content, its broad language makes it unclear what it will actually do in practice. This uncertainty has creators and consumers alike worried about the control the powers-that-be might have over what we can and can't see from around the world.

So what do you think? Is Bill C-11 a step in the right direction for supporting Canadian content and creators? Or is it a move closer to full-blown content censorship? This one's a tough call, and we'll let you decide where you stand.

Side A: Bill C-11 will help protect both Canadian content & content creators

• Bill C-11 will help promote Canadian culture and content by requiring online streaming platforms to contribute financially and make it more discoverable to users. This would ensure a thriving Canadian broadcasting sector. The big players have more than enough money to play; they shouldn't just have free access to Canadians, and charging them could seriously benefit our economy.

• The bill will support greater diversity and inclusion by providing better opportunities for underrepresented groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, cultural and linguistic minorities, LGBTQ2+ communities, and persons with disabilities. This would result in more inclusive and representative content.

• Requiring foreign streaming services to contribute financially to Canadian content creation will create job opportunities and boost the economy, which is needed at this time.

• The bill will address the unfair advantage enjoyed by foreign streaming platforms that operate in Canada without regulations or obligations to support Canadian content. Bill C-11 would create a more level playing field by subjecting all streaming services to similar rules and responsibilities.

• This isn’t some big conspiracy theory… The Broadcasting Act needs to be updated to adapt to the digital era and the significant rise of online streaming services. Bill C-11 reflects the changing landscape of media consumption and ensures that Canadian regulations keep pace with technological advancements.

Side B: Bill C-11 gives government too much control to censor content they don't agree with

• The bill could potentially lead to censorship and limit freedom of expression by giving the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) control over what content is considered "Canadian enough" to appear on streaming platforms.

• This may negatively impact user experience by altering algorithms and displaying content based on location rather than individual interests. This could result in less personalized and engaging content for users. People want to see content they are actually interested in, not just content that's within a certain radius.

• The bill's regulations and financial contributions may disproportionately burden small and independent content creators. Compliance costs and requirements may hinder their ability to create and distribute content, limiting their growth and opportunities.

• The language used in the bill is incredibly broad, leaving room for interpretation and potential abuse of power. There is a lack of transparency regarding the specific regulations and criteria used to determine what constitutes "Canadian" content. The broad language raises concerns that the CRTC could censor content that the government disagrees with under the guise of it "not being Canadian enough."

• The bill's provisions on mandating “Canadian content” could have a chilling effect on free speech, particularly on online platforms. These provisions could be used to silence dissenting voices or to restrict political speech.

• Stricter regulations on content visibility may impact Canadian content creators' ability to reach international audiences, where a significant portion of their engagement currently comes from. This could limit their exposure and growth opportunities. If this bill is created to support Canadian content creators and the content creators are saying it will harm them, why are we telling them otherwise?

Key Takeaways:

• Bill C-11, also known as the Online Streaming Act, is a proposed legislation in Canada aimed at regulating online streaming services and promoting Canadian content.

• The bill seeks to update the Broadcasting Act to include online streaming platforms, making them subject to certain regulations by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

• If passed, Bill C-11 would require streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify to contribute financially to Canadian content creation and make it more discoverable to users.

• The legislation aims to address the concerns that foreign streaming services operate in Canada without contributing to Canadian culture and content.

• Supporters argue that the bill will help promote diversity, inclusion, and representation in the broadcasting sector by ensuring better opportunities for Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, cultural and linguistic minorities, LGBTQ2+ communities, and persons with disabilities.

• Critics, including social media giants and streaming platforms, express concerns about the potential negative impact on user experience and argue that the bill could lead to censorship and limit freedom of expression.

• There is debate over whether the bill would apply to user-generated content, such as podcasts and online videos, with the government claiming that independent content creators will not be targeted.

• Google, YouTube's parent company, launched a public campaign against the legislation, suggesting it would harm users' experience on their platform.

• Canadian content creators have raised concerns that the bill's broad language leaves ambiguity about its impact, potentially affecting their ability to reach international audiences and diminishing engagement.

• The bill has undergone public consultations and parliamentary hearings, allowing stakeholders to express their views and provide input.

• Various actions have been taken in response, including lobbying efforts by streaming platforms, content creators, and advocacy groups to shape the bill and voice their concerns.

• The future of Bill C-11 remains uncertain as it continues to be debated and revised in the legislative process.