Canadian Content is the corner stone of Canada’s Broadcasting Act. Under the terms of section 3 in the Act, the development of Canadian expression should be fostered by:

• displaying Canadian talent, section 3(d)(ii);
• maximizing the use of Canadian creativity, section 3(f);
• using Canadian independent production sector, section 3(I)(v); and
• the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression, section 3(m)(iii).

The Broadcasting Act (section 10) gives the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the mandate to decide what constitutes a Canadian program and the proportion of time that should be devoted to Canadian programming.

The CRTC established a system of quotas to regulate the quantity of Canadian program content in the U.S.-dominated television and radio broadcasting industries. It uses a point system to determine the "Canadian-ness" of television programming and AM-radio programming (including music). The system is based on the number of Canadians involved in the production of a song, album, film or program.

Section 7 of the TV Broadcasting Regulations requires a public licensee shall devote not less than 60 per cent of the evening broadcast period to the broadcasting of Canadian programs; and a private licensee shall devote not less than 50 per cent of the evening broadcast. In 1998 Commercial Radio Policy, the CRTC increased the Canadian content requirements for AM and FM radio broadcasting to 35 per cent. The CRTC also established adherence to Cancon quotas as a condition of licensing for pay-per-view and specialty stations.

Canadian content rules, which came to be known as "Cancon", were devised to stimulate Canada's cultural production by ensuring greater exposure for Canadian artists in Canada's marketplaces. Canadian success stories, like Brian Adams and Celine Dion, benefited early in their careers from the airplay they received under Cancon rules.

In contrast to Cancon initiatives in radio and television, Internet services are not being regulated. According to the CRTC Report on New Media, the "Canadian Internet presence" and demand for "Canadian Product" on the Internet should be left to market forces.

Full Text: Broadcasting Act