Ottawa, June 2026 – The Government of Canada has unveiled a major cultural investment, committing $600 million per year to support the country’s audio and audiovisual sectors. The announcement, made by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, is designed to provide immediate stability to Canadian creators, producers, and broadcasters while ensuring Canadian content remains accessible and affordable.
The funding comes at a critical time. In May 2026, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) introduced new requirements under the Online Streaming Act, mandating that large foreign streaming services and Canadian broadcasters spend a portion of their revenues on Canadian programming. While the move aimed to strengthen domestic content, concerns emerged that the added costs could be passed on to consumers, raising prices at a time when affordability is a top priority.
To address this, the government will develop new policy directions to adjust implementation of the Act. These directions will focus on keeping streaming services affordable, protecting consumer choice, ensuring flexibility for both online streamers and Canadian broadcasters, and leveraging federal investments to support Canadian stories, French-language productions, Indigenous storytelling, and content created by equity-deserving groups.
Minister Miller emphasized the importance of cultural accessibility: “Canadians should be able to see themselves in the films and series they watch and hear their lives reflected in the artists they listen to. That’s why we are investing to support the audiovisual and audio sectors now, while bringing necessary stability as we develop new directions that will ensure Canadian content remains affordable.”
The additional investments will ensure Canadian creators and broadcasters receive the financial support they might otherwise lose due to the CRTC’s new rules. Once the regulations are finalized, the level of government investment will be adjusted accordingly.
This announcement builds on Canada’s broader cultural framework. The Online Streaming Act, passed in 2023, was the first major reform of the Broadcasting Act since 1991, designed to modernize Canada’s broadcasting system for the digital age. The government has also signaled its intention to consult on extending the Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit to audio and audiovisual news production, further strengthening the sector.
With this new package, Canada is reaffirming its commitment to cultural identity, diversity, and affordability. By balancing support for creators with protections for consumers, the government aims to ensure that Canadian stories continue to thrive both at home and abroad.
