Vlog: Bill C-11: Why You Don’t Qualify as “Cancon”

In this ninth instalment of the vlog, I talk about what can count as “Cancon” and what doesn’t. This in response to some debate on Bill C-11.

Welcome to the 9th instalment of my vlog. Today, I talk about the CRTC’s rules about what counts as “Canadian content” or “Cancon”. Spoiler alert: You probably don’t qualify.

To check this video out, you can view it directly on YouTube or in the embed below:

A number of people lately seem to believe that the requirements to qualify as “Canadian content” is not that big of a deal. For them, the fact that they are Canadian and they uploaded content should have that content qualify as “Canadian Content” or “Cancon”. That’s absolutely not how the rules work in the system currently and I go through some of those rules to show you why.

As I promised in the video, here are some links that I mentioned. First, my analysis as to why my content would never qualify as “Cancon”

Yes, I wrote that last year and it’s just as relevant today as it was when I wrote it back then. Secondly, if you want to browse some of the rules that tells you what counts as “Cancon” and what doesn’t, here’s a direct link to the CRTC explaining the points system which I highlighted in the video:

So, yes, what I highlighted in the video wasn’t an exaggeration.

Finally, if you are wondering about the webpage I showed in the video, here is that monstrosity in all of its glory

Bottom line, though, you probably don’t qualify as “Cancon” thanks to the rules being so archaic and ridiculous. These rules were made in 1984 and didn’t even have the agility and fast pace of the internet in mind. Hopefully, that helps clear some things up and gives you a sense of how the rules really work.

Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.