Canada Online Streaming Act support hits 73% amid U.S. trade friction

The surge in public support provides the Carney administration with significant domestic leverage to maintain a hardline stance on cultural protections despite escalating pressure from the Trump administration. For global platforms like Netflix and Disney, the jump from a 5% to a 15% revenue contribution represents a substantial shift in operating margins within the Canadian market. This friction highlights a growing global trend where sovereign nations attempt to force digital platforms into legacy broadcast regulatory frameworks. The industry should monitor whether the U.S. pursues formal retaliatory tariffs or if the 15% levy is adjusted during the upcoming regulatory review by Canada's broadcast watchdog.

The Online Streaming Act, known as Bill C-11, has become a flashpoint in Canada-U.S. trade relations since the CRTC began implementing contribution requirements for foreign streaming platforms. In June 2026, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer characterized Canada's proposed streaming levies as a significant trade barrier during bilateral negotiations, marking the first time the USTR formally elevated digital content funding rules to the same negotiating table as tariffs on physical goods. The Canadian government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has maintained that cultural sovereignty protections are non-negotiable, even as U.S. officials signal potential retaliatory measures if the 15% revenue contribution requirement is finalized.

Netflix and Disney+ are the primary targets of the CRTC's contribution framework, which requires foreign streaming services to contribute a percentage of Canadian revenue to domestic content funds. The CRTC's regulatory review process has drawn formal submissions from both Netflix and Disney arguing that mandatory contributions violate trade commitments under CUSMA, the successor agreement to NAFTA. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and APTN have publicly supported the levy structure, arguing that domestic broadcasters already contribute significantly more through existing regulatory obligations and that streaming platforms benefit from Canadian audiences without reciprocal investment in local production.

The broader regulatory landscape shows Canada is not alone in pursuing streaming content mandates, though its approach remains among the most aggressive globally. The European Union's Audiovisual Media Services Directive requires streaming platforms to ensure at least 30% European content in their catalogs and permits member states to impose financial contribution obligations, with France requiring platforms to invest up to 25% of local revenue into European production. Australia introduced a similar framework in 2024 requiring streaming services to spend a minimum percentage of Australian revenue on local content. The Canadian model differs in that it proposes a direct revenue levy rather than a content quota or indirect investment mechanism, making it more analogous to a tax than a content regulation, which is precisely why U.S. trade officials have framed it as a barrier to digital commerce rather than a cultural policy instrument.