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JAKARTA – The Canadian Senate approved a government broadcasting law on Thursday, April 27 on line after 10 months of fighting over legislation that would force companies like Netflix and YouTube to offer more Canadian content.

Bill C-11, or Online streaming law, approved by the unelected upper house of the Canadian Parliament by 52 votes for, 16 against and one abstention. With the approval of the Senate, the law only needs the royal approval of the Governor General to become law.

This law aims to regulate the likes of Spotify, Disney+ and online streaming platforms others under the control of the broadcasting regulator CRTC, and forcing them to comply with Canadian content requirements that apply to television and radio channels.

The law, proposed by the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year, was approved by the lower houses of Parliament in June with the support of opposition New Democrat parties and the Bloc Québécois.

The government says this law will ensure that services stream online promote Canadian music and stories and support Canadian jobs.

Meanwhile, opponents, including Canada’s main opposition party, the Conservative Party, criticized the law as an overreach that would affect freedom of expression and choice on the internet.

YouTube said it was not against the law in its entirety, but was concerned about the impact it would have on user-generated content. The video platform said it would be required by law to recommend Canadian content on its homepage instead of videos tailored to users’ specific interests.

Canadian Culture Minister Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the law in February 2022, said the changes were aimed at commercial programming streamed online and would not apply to individual content creators.

Once it becomes law, the CRTC will develop and implement regulations for conventional and broadcasting services on line.

Tags: canada justin trudeau netflix youtube streaming