This month, TCIS Board Members Len St-Aubin and Dr. Irene Berkowitz appeared before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as part of the ongoing public hearing, The Path Forward – Defining “Canadian program” and supporting the creation and distribution of Canadian programming in the audio-visual sector (CRTC 2024-288). Their independent interventions brought clear, forward-looking perspectives to a pivotal policy moment.
Len St-Aubin: Focus on Flexibility, Market Forces, and User Choice
Appearing on behalf of TCIS, Len St-Aubin urged the Commission to align its regulatory approach with the realities of the modern media ecosystem. His submission emphasized five key principles:
- Prioritize the interests of Canadians as consumers, creators, and taxpayers—not just legacy stakeholders.
- Modernize the definition of Canadian content by expanding the point system with maximum flexibility, including proposals such as Dr. Berkowitz’s (below).
- Avoid negative unintended consequences, such as market exit, increased costs to consumers, and/or barriers to innovation.
- Ensure certainty for user-generated content (UGC) by clarifying the regulatory boundaries and avoiding policies that would stifle online creators.
- Rely more heavily on market forces to drive investment, sustainability, and innovation across platforms—both Canadian and foreign.
Len’s message to the Commission was clear: it’s time for a CanCon regime that is responsive, proportionate, and rooted in today’s digital and global environment.
Watch Len St-Aubin’s full remarks: CPAC Recording
https://www.cpac.ca/crtc-hearings/episode/may-16-2025–the-canadian-internet-society?id=ca13e41a-810a-4883-a336-664fd20c3f21
Dr. Irene Berkowitz: Reward What Matters—Audience
Appearing in her capacity as an independent researcher and subject matter expert, Dr. Irene Berkowitz advocated for a fundamental shift in how Canadian content is valued and supported.
Her message was focused: Incentivize audience reach, not just production inputs.
She argued that Canada has successfully built a media workforce over the past 40 years. The challenge now is to ensure that Canadian content is discoverable, exportable, and self-sustaining—outcomes that can only be achieved by growing audiences.
Dr. Berkowitz proposed a flexible, non-mandatory point system that includes incentives specifically tied to expanding market reach in both creation and distribution, along with two objective cultural tests. Her 30-point model would still be among the least restrictive globally, offering Canada a competitive, modernized framework for defining national content.
Watch Irene Berkowitz’s full remarks:
https://www.cpac.ca/crtc-hearings/episode/may-16-2025–irene-berkowitz?id=59380883-5433-4635-be0a-e6580356e0a2
At TCIS, we continue to advocate for a Canadian content system that reflects how media actually works in a digital, global economy—one that supports creators, protects consumers, and leverages the power of markets to build a stronger cultural future.
