Canadian parliament passes bill compelling streaming platforms to show local content

Canadian parliaments lower house passed legislation that would bring online streaming platforms under the stewardship of the country’s broadcast regulator and compel firms like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify to offer more local content.

The bill, brought by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, cleared the House of Commons by 208 votes to 117, with support from the opposition New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois.

The government says the legislation would ensure that online streaming services promote Canadian music and stories and support local jobs. Critics say it was rushed to a vote, and concerns raised about the bill, such as the potential impact on independent content creators, were not addressed.

Heritage Minister of Canada Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill in February, says the changes are meant for online commercial programs and would not apply to individual Canadians.

Bill C-11 passed the third reading in the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament with a vote of 208 to 117, with the Conservatives opposing the proposed legislation.

The bill would update Canada’s Broadcasting Act and bring streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime and Netflix within the regulatory regime.

The Broadcasting Act would also apply to platforms including YouTube and Spotify and make them promote Canadian music artists by law.