On November 18, 2025, the CRTC updated the definition of Canadian content for television and online streaming services, as one step in modernizing the Broadcast Act.

Some of the key changes:

• Uses a system that awards points for key creative roles filled by Canadians, and requires production and post-production spending in Canada.
• Recognizes a broader range of creative roles that contribute to Canadian productions, including positions such as showrunners, heads of departments responsible for costume design, make-up artists and hair artists, and visual effects directors and special effects directors, alongside existing roles like directors, scriptwriters and lead voice performers.
• Introduces bonus points for specific types of content, such as programs based on Canadian books.
• Clarifies that key creative positions used to qualify as Canadian content (such as the director and screenwriter) should be held by humans, not artificial intelligence.
• Streamlines reporting requirements for certified productions, as part of the CRTC’s ongoing efforts to reduce regulatory burden on the industry.
• Requires collaboration between foreign streaming services and Canadian companies, ensuring that at least 20 percent of ownership rests with a Canadian partner and that a higher proportion of key creative positions are held by Canadians.

See Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2025-299 for all the new details. PDF here.

My take: my guess is it won’t be long before CAVCO follows suit and updates their point system. One interesting note is that bonus points will be granted for Canadian characters, locations, pre-recorded music and prior written works.