The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is launching an industry-facing survey on how the current definition of Canadian content should evolve following the passage of Bill C-11, a.k.a. the Online Streaming Act.

The survey will be open from Feb. 27 to March 31 as the final stage of the CMF’s national #CanConDef initiative on the same subject matter, which it kicked off last September, according to a news release.

All individuals who work in — or aspire to work in — Canada’s audiovisual production and broadcasting sector can participate in the 10-minute questionnaire, which was designed in collaboration with the firms La Société des demains and Humain Humain. It was informed by input from the CMF’s annual industry consultations and interviews with dozens of individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, said the release.

The funder said the survey is “designed to be widely accessible, regardless of role, level of experience, or knowledge regarding Canadian content policy” and will be complemented by a public-facing survey and industry workshops in the spring.

The viewpoints and perspectives will be put into the CMF’s What You Said report, set to be published ahead of the CRTC’s upcoming Bill C-11 policy review, once the legislation is passed. Currently the bill, which attempts to modernize Canada’s decades-old Broadcasting Act for the digital era, is back at the House of Commons for review after passing the Senate.

The #CanConDef initiative has also seen the subject matter explored on the CMF’s Now & Next site and covered at the Canadian Media Producers Association’s recent Prime Time keynote session with CMF president and CEO Valerie Creighton and Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason (both pictured).

More Now & Next pieces will be published over the next several weeks, said the release.

“As the country’s largest funder of Canadian screen content, and following on our nationwide consultation, we recognize the critical importance of the many voices in our industry and our role as convenor in bringing those voices to the CRTC’s upcoming formal proceeding, which will include the definition of Canadian content,” said Creighton in a statement. “This survey is an opportunity for us to gather viewpoints from across the country, highlight our similarities, honour differences in perspectives, and demonstrate that we can all work together on this critical conversation to strengthen Canadian stories for years to come.”

Photo credit: Canadian Media Producers Association