Toronto: Big tech companies, which provide online streaming services, would need to contribute to Canadian content or face music as controversial bill brought by the Liberals has come one step closer to becoming a law.
The Senate has passed the Online Streaming Act, also known as Bill B-11. Dozens of amendments were also made to it following a lengthy a study by senators before passing it.
With this bill, the rules related to broadcasting in Canada will be updated and big online streaming companies such as YouTube, Netflix and Spotify will also have to show Canadian content and bring it within the reach of Canadian users, otherwise they will have to face heavy fines.
Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said he was hopeful that the House of Commons would pass the bill next week after assessing the changes made by the Senate.
Rodriguez said the Liberal government would not accept all the recommendations made by the Senate, but he did not say which recommendations he dislikes.