Canada's Online Streaming Act Review Is a Good Start, But More Should Be Done to End this Discriminatory Policy, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON-Following the Canadian government's directive to the CRTC to review its implementation of the Online Streaming Act, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Rodrigo Balbontin, associate director for trade, IP and digital technology governance policy:

The CRTC review is a welcome step, but Canada should go further and eliminate discriminatory digital policies that conflicts with its commitments under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).The renewal and strengthening of CUSMA should be a top priority for all parties as it deepens economic integration and builds a more innovative and competitive regional market. As CUSMA enters its first formal joint review on July 1, the three countries should work to uphold the agreement's core commitments, considered as a template for digital integration, while enforcing the prohibition on discriminating against digital products.Canada has legitimate reasons to support and protect its creative industries. But pursuing that goal by singling out foreign digital services for special burdens runs counter to the spirit of CUSMA, which was designed to promote open, non-discriminatory digital trade across North America. As CUSMA's renegotiation approaches, Canada should align its digital policies with its trade commitments while supporting Canadian creators through transparent, non-discriminatory cultural programs.

Contact: Austin Slater, [email protected]