Landmark CRTC decision sees new funds for Canadian and Indigenous content

Toronto, June 4th 2024 – Statement by the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Executive Director, Sarah Spring in response to the CRTC’s first phase of implementation of the Online Streaming Act:

“DOC applauds the CRTC for today’s landmark decision toward a thriving future for Canadian culture with their ruling that online undertakings must contribute 5% of their previous annual revenues to Canadian and Indigenous content. Nurturing Canadian and Indigenous filmmakers by providing funding for their home-grown content provides tremendous benefits to Canadians and the global audiences who appreciate our work.

Documentary is where many creators begin and grow their careers, thanks in large part to ongoing support from important Institutions such as those named in today’s CRTC ruling. We hope that future decisions will go one step further and provide clear mandates to support independent documentary production, and in the meantime DOC’s community of 1300 filmmakers across the country look forward to working with the Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office, the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators, the Black Screen Office, and Canada’s Certified Independent Production Funds to grow the incredible body of documentary production being made every year that is so important to Canada’s culture.”

-Sarah Spring, Executive Director, Documentary Organization of Canada

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About DOC

The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the collective voice of Canada’s independent documentary creators. Founded in 1983 to represent the interests of Canada’s growing community of indie doc filmmakers, today DOC has over 1300 members across six chapters from coast to coast. DOC conducts valuable research and advocacy work that strengthens the ecosystem for documentary production, and runs National programs that support our community. DOC’s mandate as a member-driven organization is to advocate for an equitable, sustainable environment for documentary production and to strengthen the sector within the broader cultural industry.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Spring, Executive Director
Documentary Organization of Canada
sarah@docorg.ca