CRTC’s Modernized Definition of Canadian Content: A New Era for Producers

On November 18, 2025, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) introduced a modernized definition of Canadian Content (CanCon) under the Online Streaming Act. This update reflects today’s production realities and ensures Canadian stories remain prominent across traditional broadcasting and online streaming platforms.

Why the Change?

The Online Streaming Act brings the international streamers into the Canadian system and ensures that their dominance does not prevent Canadian stories from being told.  The old CanCon framework was designed for the Canadian broadcast system. And did not have the flexibility required for Canadian producers to produce CanCon with international streaming services.  The new definition:

• Expands recognised key creative roles.

• Introduces bonus points for cultural elements (Canadian characters, settings, source material).

• Maintains human creative control—AI cannot replace key creative positions.

• Applies a percentage-based threshold (60%) rather than a fixed minimum, making certification more flexible for diverse productions.

The Points System Explained

To qualify as Canadian, productions must earn at least 60% of available points and meet mandatory role requirements. Points are awarded when Canadians fill key creative positions, as detailed below.

Live action productions points and bonuses

Role or element	Points	Notes
Director	2	Points awarded if the director is Canadian (per episode for series).
Screenwriter	2	Points awarded if the writer is Canadian (per episode for series).
Showrunner	2	Optional role; points awarded if the showrunner is Canadian. No double-counting with writing/directing credits.
First lead performer (or first voice)	1	Must be Canadian.
Second lead performer (or second voice)	1	Must be Canadian.
Director of photography	1	Canadian.
Production designer or art director	1	Canadian.
Picture editor	1	Canadian.
Music composer	1	Canadian.
Heads of costume, make‑up, and hair (group)	1	Awarded if all used head roles are Canadian.
Visual effects director or special effects director	1	Awarded if the role(s) used are Canadian.
Bonus: Canadian musical selections	+1	More than 50% of pre‑recorded/pre‑existing musical selections are Canadian; only available if there is no composer or the composer is Canadian. Original score is excluded from the bonus.
Bonus: Canadian written works	+1	Based on Canadian‑authored fiction/non‑fiction (novel, play, poem, etc.). Excludes materials developed solely to support script development.
Bonus: Canadian characters and settings	+1	Lead characters identified as Canadian (or First Nations, Inuit, Métis) and story set in Canada (criteria apply per episode for series).

• Mandatory roles: Either Director or Screenwriter must be Canadian, and at least one of First or Second lead performer must be Canadian.

• Threshold: A production must meet at least 60% of points (or 80% if Canadian copyright ownership is between 20% and 50%). Bonus points count toward the numerator only.
  

Animated productions points and bonuses

Role or element	Points	Notes
Director	2	Canadian.
Scriptwriter and storyboard supervisor	2	Canadian; 80% rule applies when multiple individuals share the role. If only one of the two roles exists, 2 points may be awarded for that role when ≥80% Canadian.
Showrunner	2	Optional role; points awarded if Canadian. No double-counting with writing/directing credits.
First voice (or first lead performer)	1	Must be Canadian.
Second voice (or second lead performer)	1	Must be Canadian.
Design supervisor	1	Canadian.
Layout artist and background	1	Performed by Canadians (regardless of location).
Key animation	1	Performed by Canadians (regardless of location).
Assistant animation/in‑betweening	1	Performed by Canadians (regardless of location).
Camera operator or virtual camera operator	1	Must be Canadian; virtual camera operator expressly recognized (lead compositor/layout supervisor may be accepted as equivalents in digital animation).
Music composer	1	Canadian.
Picture editor	1	Canadian.
Bonus: Canadian musical selections	+1	More than 50% of pre‑recorded/pre‑existing musical selections are Canadian; only available if there is no composer or the composer is Canadian. Original score excluded from the bonus.
Bonus: Canadian written works	+1	Based on Canadian‑authored fiction/non‑fiction (novel, play, poem, etc.).
Bonus: Canadian characters and settings	+1	Lead characters identified as Canadian (or First Nations, Inuit, Métis) and story set in Canada (criteria apply per episode for series).

• Mandatory roles/functions: Director or Scriptwriter and Storyboard Supervisor must be Canadian; at least one of First or Second voice must be Canadian; Key Animation and Camera Operator/Virtual Camera Operator must be performed/filled by Canadians.

• Threshold: At least 60% of points (or 80% if Canadian copyright ownership is between 20% and 50%). Bonus points count toward the numerator only.
  

Practical implications for producers

• Lead roles and 80% flexibility: You can share Director, Screenwriter, and Scriptwriter/Storyboard Supervisor roles among multiple individuals and still receive points if at least 80% are Canadian; other roles require all credited individuals to be Canadian.

• Music pathway: You can still qualify for the music dimension even without hiring a composer by leveraging Canadian musical selections; ensure more than 50% are Canadian and that no non‑Canadian composer is engaged.

• Animation specifics: Plan staffing early to ensure Key Animation and Camera/Virtual Camera Operator functions are performed by Canadians; remote work outside Canada is permitted as long as the individuals are Canadian. See below "Time-bound certification risk",  The 12-months from the start of key animation for series completion will be of particular concern for animation producers.

• Time‑bound certification risk: Producers must carefully plan production schedules — if a series exceeds the 12‑month completion window or a feature film exceeds the 18‑month window, the project loses Canadian certification regardless of how many creative points it earned. This creates real pressure to align financing, shooting, and post‑production timelines with regulatory deadlines.

• Series episode threshold: For a series to qualify as Canadian overall, at least 60% of its episodes must individually meet the Canadian program certification criteria. Strategic staffing and consistent compliance across episodes are essential.

• AI Restrictions: Key creative roles must remain human-led to protect Canadian talent.

FAQ

1. Why does this matter if Canadian Content for CAVCO isn’t changing?

CAVCO rules govern tax credit eligibility, while the CRTC definition applies to broadcast and streaming compliance under the Broadcasting Act. Any production certified by CAVCO as eligible for the Canadian Film or Television Production Tax Credit (CPTC) will qualify as Canadian Content. However, the CRTC definition also allows productions that may not be certified by CAVCO for the CPTC to qualify as Canadian Content.

As part of the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, streaming services such as Netflix will be required to reinvest a portion of their Canadian revenues into the production of Canadian Content. The new CRTC definition provides greater flexibility in determining what qualifies as CanCon and creates additional opportunities for Canadian producers to collaborate with international streaming services.

Examples of this flexibility include shared copyright ownership and production control—neither of which are permitted under CAVCO rules for the CPTC. We expect this flexibility to be a win–win for both international streaming services and Canadian producers, empowering them to create content for Canada and the world.

2. What flexibility is provided to allow non-Canadian writers and directors on CanCon productions?

Productions can still earn full points for writing or directing if at least 80% of the individuals in those roles are Canadian, calculated per episode for series. This allows some international collaboration while maintaining Canadian creative leadership. There is even some flexibility alluded to around mandatory roles. And only 60% of episodes in series need to qualify as Canadian for the series to qualify as Canadian.

3. How Do Bonus Points Work for CanCon Certification?

• Bonus points only increase the numerator in the calculation of your Canadian Content score.

• They do not increase the denominator (the total possible points remain based on the regular roles).

• This means bonus points can help you raise your percentage above the 60% threshold, but they cannot replace mandatory requirements.

Example Calculation

• A live-action production has 12 regular points available.

• Mandatory roles: Director or Screenwriter must be Canadian; one lead performer must be Canadian.

• Your production earns 7 regular points (58%).

• Add 2 bonus points (Canadian setting + Canadian characters; and Canadian licensed music):

  • New numerator = 7 + 2 = 9

  • Denominator stays at 12 → 9 ÷ 12 = 75%

• Result: You now meet the 60% threshold because bonus points boosted your numerator.

Key Rules

• Mandatory roles must still be satisfied. Bonus points cannot compensate for missing a Canadian director or screenwriter.

• Bonus points apply per episode for series, just like the 80% rule for writers and directors.

• They are optional incentives, but strategically valuable for productions with some international talent.

Conclusion: A Global Opportunity for Canadian Producers

The revised CanCon definition isn’t just a regulatory update—it’s a strategic opportunity. Under the Online Streaming Act, international streaming services must invest a portion of their Canadian revenues into Canadian productions. This creates a powerful incentive for global platforms to partner with Canadian producers.

The new rules replace the old “co-venture” category with a modern framework for co-owned and co-produced projects, designed for Canadian, American, and international audiences. This opens the door for Canadian producers to:

• Collaborate more closely with major studios and streaming giants.

• More easily secure financing and distribution beyond Canada’s limited broadcast spectrum.

• Bring Canadian stories to the world, unbound by geography.

For producers, this decision is a cue to start thinking bigger: Canadian content is no longer just for Canada—it’s for global screens. Just how big this opportunity is, remains to be seen as the CRTC releases decisions on market dynamics and clarifies streaming services CanCon spend requirements in the coming months. Stay tuned…