Canadian Content and Broadcasters in Canada

In Canada, our broadcast companies have several rules by which they must abide. Some of these are clearly logical, and act in the interest of the general population, such as the posting of “audience ratings” which inform viewers of the age groups that can suitably view the current program. However, other rules are much more controversial. This essay will examine the rules and regulations of the CRTC with regards to the CanCon (Canadian Content) requirements of Canadian television broadcasters. This essay hopes to demonstrate, through both primary and secondary sources, two key arguments: that the Canadian Content requirements are not protecting Canadian popular culture or identity, but instead are simply serving to harm our nation’s broadcasters; and that the rise of the internet as it exists today has made the CRTC’s CanCon requirements almost entirely ineffectual. Ultimately, this paper calls for the removal (or at the very least, major reform) of the CRTC’s CanCon requirements regarding Canadian broadcasters, as it may help ensure the survival of Canada’s broadcast companies.

Johnson, M. (2011, November 30). More Harm Than Good: Canadian Content and Broadcasters. (P. Litt, Ed.)

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