Parliament Enacts Bill C-11 To Amend Canada's Broadcasting Act

On April 27, 2023, the Canadian Parliament passed into law Bill C-11 (Bill), also referred to as the Online Streaming Act (Act). The Act, which has attracted considerable attention, implements several consequential amendments to Canada's Broadcasting Act.

KEY AMENDMENTS

1. Expanded Scope. The Act introduces a new category of broadcasting undertakings called "online undertakings," which will encompass a broad range of businesses such as video and music streaming service providers and social media platforms, thereby subjecting these online undertakings to regulation and oversight by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

2. New Regulatory Powers. The Act provides the CRTC with broad new order- and regulation-making powers applicable to all broadcasting undertakings. To further the broadcasting policy objectives, section 9.1 sets out the conditions the CRTC can impose on broadcasting undertakings, including: obliging undertakings