Canadian Content in a Digtial World: Our Stories on Every Screen

ACTRA is a tireless advocate for Canadian culture and the development of Canada’s audiovisual industries. Our union and members lobby for regulation and government policies that protect our culture and encourage audiovisual production in all genres, expanding work opportunities for Canadian performers.

Underlying our efforts is a strong belief that the policies and programs we advocate are in the broader public interest. A strong domestic production, distribution and exhibition system is absolutely vital to Canadian culture and our sovereignty as a nation.

We work closely with many other trade unions, ad hoc industry advocacy coalitions, and public interest groups on a wide range of public policy issues facing not only artists, but all Canadians.

ACTRA’s past lobbying efforts have paid off in some big wins that have brought increased stability to our industry and more work for performers. Most recently the government announced that the Canada Media Fund will receive permanent funding and the CRTC imposed long-overdue rules on private broadcasters that require them to spend a percentage of their revenues on Canadian drama.

This is a great start. But with our industry changing at a breakneck pace we need to make sure the tools are in place to seize on the opportunities and make sure we can see our Canadian stories in the digital age on every screen – big, small and mobile.

What do we need to make sure we can see our stories on every screen?

1) Investment in Canadian content​

• We need to make sure we are able to create new, compelling professional Canadian content with long-term investment in content production through the CMF, Telefilm, CBC, NFB.

• We also need to increase private investment – this is why companies like Netflix need to contribute to funds like the CMF just like Canadian broadcasters and cable companies do.

2) Shelf space for Canadian content

• We’ll keep intervening at the CRTC and speaking up to make sure private broadcasters are meeting their responsibilities to give back to the system by supporting and scheduling Canadian programming.

• Online broadcasters should also be required to make Canadian programming available to consumers.

3) Support for creative entrepreneurs​

• Actors and other creators are small business people. The only way we can make a living is to have our work protected through fair copyright laws and taxation that allows us to average our fluctuating incomes.

Want to learn more?

Take a stroll through our Issues area to learn more and get involved in our latest campaigns.