Kelowna, British Columbia
June 4, 2026

Claire Anderson, Commissioner, British Columbia and Yukon
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

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I am happy to join you today, and grateful to be doing so on the traditional, unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people. I understand the Syilx Okanagan people signed the Okanagan Nation Declaration in 1987, confirming that they are the unconquered Aboriginal people of this land and that they have never given up their rights to the land and resources.

I am grateful for their stewardship of these lands, and grateful to be meeting with you on their unceded territory. Thank you, as well, to the Western Association of Broadcasters and the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters for the invitation to speak at this new, combined conference, Forward (FWD).

The name is an apropos description of so many aspects of our broadcasting industry today and the mindset that will be required to succeed as it continues to evolve. We've used that exact word throughout our proceedings on the modernization of the broadcasting regulatory framework, calling the process itself "The Path Forward." Our regulatory approach requires forward-thinking, as the broadcasting industry is in a constant state of flux, driven by global competition, new and emerging technologies, and shifting consumer habits.

As some of you may recall, my colleague Commissioner Joanne Levy spoke at the Western Association of Broadcasters conference last year. In her address, she spoke about the importance of working together and embracing fresh ideas and new ways of doing business. Ensuring a successful broadcasting system well into the future will require everyone in the broadcasting industry today to work together - much like the two organizations hosting us today.

At the CRTC, we know well how important our broadcasting industry is to Canadians and to Canadian society. It entertains us. It delivers critical information in times of emergency. It tells our stories, and is part of the cultural fabric of this country. And it supports the livelihoods of thousands of Canadian creators, producers, and broadcasters.

Across all of our broadcasting modernization proceedings, we have received more have 1,700 interventions. We have heard from directors and producers who told us about the importance of Canadian content telling our stories, in our settings, with characters and themes that reflect who we are as a nation. We heard from creators in the industry who were keen to ensure that their place in the production process was considered in any changes we made. And many of you have shared the challenges the industry is facing.

 Based on all of this input, and in accordance with the mandate we were given, we have been diligently working to create a regulatory framework to ensure that high-quality Canadian and Indigenous content continues to be produced and is easily discoverable.

Today I want to provide you with details of those efforts, and the ways in which we can move forward together.

But before that, I want to note yesterday's announcement from the government, which many of you no doubt have heard by now. We are waiting to learn more about the new policy directions that will be issues, and stand ready to implement them. But until then, let me tell you a bit more about the work we have done so far.

Modernizing Canada's broadcasting frameworks

As many of you know, we began this work when the Online Streaming Act was passed by Parliament to amend to Broadcasting Act. The Act required us to modernize our rules and regulations for the broadcasting industry to include online broadcasters.

Overhauling a decades-old framework is no small task. The changes that were required were substantial and complex. We moved quickly, publishing a regulatory plan within days of the Act being passed.

Our approach is focused on three broad goals.

First, Canadians everywhere should be able to easily find, listen to, and watch high-quality Canadian and Indigenous content. Content that tells our stories from our unique and honest perspectives - stories in which viewers of all backgrounds and experiences can see themselves reflected and learn from the perspectives of others in our country. This includes French-language content, news, dramas, documentaries and other types of programming.

Second, the system that produces that content should be sustainable, financially resilient, and capable of adapting to changing technologies and market dynamics.

And third, the frameworks we produce must be clear and predictable, with transparent rules for both traditional and online platforms, ensuring fairness and consistency.

With these goals in mind, we have been moving as quickly as possible with our decisions.

Modernizing Canada's audio policy

Let me start with our progress on audio.

As you may know we determined that a new fund for local news on radio should be created. The goal was to direct funding to strengthen local news production by commercial radio stations in smaller communities. Because we know that in those communities, radio is sometimes the only source of local news. 

To address this, we approved the framework for the establishment of the Commercial Radio News Fund. At the same time as we approved that framework, we also launched a consultation to simplify the rules for radio stations and reduce regulatory burden. During that consultation, broadcasters shared a wide range of views on issues like the length of licence terms and how we can streamline our processes.

So, we took action, and last fall we announced that we would transition to radio licences that would no longer expire in most cases. We also made it easier for new stations to launch and for existing ones to operate more effectively.

The goal of these changes is simple -- to free up stations' time and resources so that they can focus on what matters most: serving their communities. This could mean producing more news, supporting local talent, or upgrading equipment to keep pace with technological change.

At the same time, we have also been working on a major consultation specifically on audio policy. We are looking at radio and audio streaming together, and determining how we can continue to support the creation, presentation, and discovery of Canadian and Indigenous music and audio content.

We are exploring important questions like: How do we define Canadian content for music and how can we best support it? How can we modify our rules to take on the challenges and opportunities created by an ever-evolving system?

Many interveners, including traditional and online broadcasters, artists, creative associations and record labels, shared their views with us, including during a public hearing last fall.

One thing that we heard loud and clear is how vital it is for people to be able to discover Canadian artists, and how important radio airplay continues to be in sharing their music with audiences, which is something we heard last night at the opening reception, when the BC-based band, The Washboard Union, paid tribute to radio stations in the province, across Canada, and most recently while on tour in the U.K. for playing their music. This airtime is pivotal to Canadian artists, who depend on the services you provided in your communities and regions. In the coming months, we intend to launch a database for Canadian music to facilitate this critical part of the radio broadcasting ecosystem. The database will make it easier to identify and track what qualifies as Canadian content in the audio sector. And we will also soon be exploring important questions around Indigenous music, where clear definitions are needed to ensure any future support is targeted, meaningful, and successful.

Decisions on audio policy will mark important steps toward a stronger, more adaptable audio broadcasting system.

So those are the next steps specifically for the audio sector. But, as I am sure you may have heard, we have also been working to update the regulatory framework for audiovisual Canadian and Indigenous content.

Updating the definition of an audiovisual Canadian program

Last November we updated the definition of Canadian program for the audiovisual side, in our decision "The Path Forward: defining 'Canadian program'".

We made changes so that the definition would reflect the way content is created today, as well as modern production realities. So we changed some key components of the content certification system.  

We kept a points-based certification system because it has been successful in the past, and because it helps us ensure that key creative roles continue to be filled by Canadians. It also promotes production and post-production spending remaining in Canada.

We also wanted to ensure that the new rules reflected modern production realities. So the new definition recognizes a broader range of creative roles, including those which have evolved recently. And we have introduced bonus points for certain types of content. Though not mandatory, programs that are based on Canadian books, or include Canadian or Indigenous characters, synopses and settings, may be eligible for bonus points that can help a production attain certification.

And although we recognize artificial intelligence as a tool, the updated definition also clarifies that key creative positions should be held by humans, and not AI.

And finally, in our increasingly digital world, we wanted to promote collaboration between online broadcasters and Canadian producers, who can use the rich pool of Canadian talent to produce quality content in English, French, and other languages.

Funding and discoverability

The decision to update Canadian program definitions was only one step to create a new broadcasting framework.

Last month we issued two decisions for the audiovisual side, "The Path Forward - Working towards a sustainable broadcasting system" and its companion policy decision "The Path Forward - Supporting the creation and distribution of Canadian programming in the audio-visual sector".

These decisions focused on supporting the creation and discoverability of Canadian and Indigenous content.

They detailed new measures to recalibrate the contributions of traditional and online broadcasters toward Canadian and Indigenous content. And they set out expectations to help make this content available and visible to audiences, so that it is easier for people to find.

Conclusion

As we continue our work and publish more decisions, I encourage you to stay engaged and reach out with any questions you may have. The CRTC has staff - some of whom are here today - who are happy to discuss your questions and concerns.

Because we are all in this together. And together we can ensure that Canadian programming, music, and talent - on our airwaves and on our screens - is produced, listened to, watched, and enjoyed for generations to come.

Thank you.