Ottawa: After years of political opposition and parliamentary scrutiny, the federal Liberal government’s online streaming act, also known as Bill C-11, was passed in the Senate. After getting the royal seal, this bill will now take the form of a law.
Bill C-11 was cleared by the Senate on Thursday evening. The bill, sponsored by Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, was passed by senators after some amendments.
It is worth mentioning that for the first time since 1991, the way has been paved for the reform of the Broadcasting Act and during this time online content can also be discussed.
The bill, which was passed by a majority of MPs last month, got approval with 52 votes to 16 from the senators.
With the passage of this bill, digital platforms like Netflix and YouTube will now have to contribute financially to the Canadian subject as well.
With the passage of the bill, online streaming platforms will now come under regulatory authorities such as the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission. Under this, if these digital platforms do not offer Canadian content for Canadian users, then they may also have to pay a fine.