As the industry ticks the days until the final report on the review of the Broadcasting Act, the Trudeau government reaffirmed its intention to force global internet giants to create and promote easily accessible Cancon on their platforms in a series of to-do lists delivered to his new cabinet. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau published the new mandate letters to his appointed cabinet ministers on Friday (Dec. 13), including Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault.

The letter reconfirmed a number of campaign promises from the liberals, restating the intention to ensure internet giants create and promote easily accessible Cancon on their platforms. Other promises made were plans to “strengthen the regional mandate of CBC/Radio-Canada” for local news and its digital platform, a new cultural diplomacy strategy to promote Canadian creators and culture, and increased funding for Telefilm Canada. The letter did not specifically reference the 50% annual budget increase included in the Party’s campaign platform.

Guilbeault was named as the new Heritage Minister last month, following the results of the federal election, where the Liberal Party won enough seats to form a minority government. Guilbeault replaced Pablo Rodriguez, who was appointed House Leader.

The new Minister steps in as the industry awaits the final report from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel, set to be sent to the government in January 2020 with recommendations for the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Acts.

Concerns about web giants contributing their fair share into the Canadian system, including creating and promoting Canadian content, was a top concern among submissions sent to the panel, which included Canadian broadcasters, guilds and unions, production companies, and other stakeholders. Internet giants such as Netflix, Facebook and Google also sent submissions. At the time Rodriguez had vowed to take “appropriate measures” in response to the industry call to hold internet giants accountable.

Guilbeault sent out a tweet this morning (Dec. 16), stating he and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains will “work together to quickly modernize pre-Internet laws so that web giants can offer more Canadian content, contribute to its creation, promote it and make it easier to find.”

The CMPA released a statement on Friday commending the “renewed commitment” and welcoming Julie Dabrusin as the Heritage Minister’s parliamentary secretary, as well as Will Amos and Ali Ehassi as parliamentary secretaries to Minister Bains. “We look forward to working closely with parliamentarians in the months to come in our shared goal of benefiting Canadian audiences, and building a strong, sustainable media production ecosystem,” read the statement.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau recently stood by the Liberal Party’s campaign promise to tax foreign digital companies that make more than $1 billion global revenue, and $40 million in Canadian revenue. The move would bring in $540 million in additional revenue for Canada 2020/21, according to the Party’s election platform.