Statement by Kevin Desjardins, President, Canadian Association of Broadcasters on the tabling of Bill C-11, An Act to Amend the Broadcasting Act

The Broadcasting Act is in urgent need of updating to reflect the monumental changes in the way that Canadians receive content. The Canadian Association of Broadcasters welcomes the introduction of Bill C-11 as a critical step towards recognizing and addressing the massive impact of unregulated foreign players in our broadcasting system.

A decade of exemptions from regulatory oversight has given an unfair advantage to foreign streaming services, allowing them to capitalize on the Canadian market while avoiding any of the obligations imposed on our domestic broadcasting sector.

It is vital that this legislation establish a fair and equitable framework in which regulatory obligations are rebalanced for all players in the Canadian broadcasting space.