Question Period Note: Canada Media Fund: COVID-19 Emergency Funding

On May 8, 2020, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced that the Government of Canada will allocate $88.8 million of the $500 million emergency fund to the Canada Media Fund. This funding will be dedicated to supporting the Canadian television and digital media industries.

• The audiovisual sector plays an essential role in Canadian society. It is also a major driver of the economy.
• The Government is allocating $88.8 million to the Canada Media Fund to help Canadian television and digital media companies keep their doors open in the face of COVID-19.
• Working with the Canada Media Fund, we will make the funds available as quickly as possible.

• The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is the largest fund for television and digital content production in Canada. In 2019-20, the CMF plans to invest $353 million.
• The Government of Canada allocates $134.1 million annually to the CMF on an ongoing basis.
• Through CRTC regulations, cable, satellite and Internet Protocol TV distributors (also known as BDUs) must contribute no less than five percent of their broadcasting revenues to Canadian programming, the majority of which goes to the CMF.
o These revenues have been in decline since 2013-14 as a result of declining cable and satellite subscription revenues.
• In its 2018 Budget, the Government committed to increasing the federal contribution to the CMF to offset declining private sector contributions. To date, as part of this commitment, the Government has invested an additional:
o $17 million in 2018-19
o $23.5 million in 2019-20
COVID-19 Emergency Funding
• On April 17, the Prime Minister announced a $500 million emergency fund to support the culture, heritage and sports sector. On May 8, the minister of Canadian Heritage announced additional details about the emergency fund. Of the $500 million, the CMF will distribute $88.8 million in the first phase of the two-phase plan.
• Canadian Heritage will work with the CMF to distribute funds through a streamlined process that will facilitate rapid distribution of funds in a manner that is consistent across all organizations. The CMF will use a formula-based approach to deliver the emergency fund, up to 25% of the most recently approved applications.
o Measures will be put in place to avoid any potential duplication of funding between the Department, the CMF and Telefilm. For example, applicants will not be able to claim funding from other federal supports for the same budget items.
o All applicants at a minimum will be required to provide an attestation form indicating that they need the funding to ensure a continuity of operations and safeguard jobs.
• The CMF and Telefilm Canada are working together to put mechanisms in place as quickly as possible. They plan on issuing broad directives early in the week of May 11, as well as hold two virtual Town halls, one in French and one in English, at the end of the same week.
• In general, the audiovisual community was pleased with the measures announced. CMF’s President and CEO, Valerie Creighton stated that the CMF and Telefilm welcome the measures announced on May 8. She went on to say that the emergency funding will be allocated in a way which complements other measures currently in place for screen industry workers and companies.

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