Court challenge may force Online Streaming Act revisit: CRTC chairperson

OTTAWA — The CRTC chairperson says Parliament may have to revisit the Online Streaming Act if a court challenge by streamers succeeds.

Vicky Eatrides says whether or not that happens depends on the reasons the court puts forward in its eventual decision.

Eatrides made the comments in response to a question from Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux.

He asked whether, if the court rules in favour of the streamers, the CRTC could issue another decision or if Parliament would have to re-do its legislative work, such as through an amendment.

“It depends on the decision,” Eatrides responded in French.

CRTC representatives were at a parliamentary committee to discuss how the broadcast regulator is implementing the Online Streaming Act, which sets up the CRTC to regulate streaming companies.

Streaming companies are fighting an order the CRTC made under that authority that forces them to pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to fund the production of Canadian content, including local TV news.

The court has put a pause on the payments, estimated to be at least $1.25 million annually per company, until it releases its decision.

Scott Shortliffe, the CRTC’s vice-president of broadcasting, told the committee streamers have made contributions, with the money being held in trust, though some has been distributed to some recipients, by the choice of the streamers.

“They are not legally required to do that. They have chosen to do so,” he said.

He said the money doesn’t go directly to the CRTC and is administered by an independent body, and the regulator doesn’t yet have an account of the amount.

As the case has made its way through the courts, the CRTC has continued holding multiple proceedings and hearing on implementing the legislation.

Shortliffe said the CRTC is proceeding with its work.

“We will see what the courts decide. And in the meantime, we will continue on administering the act,” he told MPs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.