Canada's Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction

The international coproduction environment has seen some significant changes in recent years due to technological advances and greater global competition for investment. In light of these changes, the Government of Canada has introduced Canada’s Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction. This Policy seeks to focus Canada’s approach to treaty coproduction and ensure that Canadians and the audiovisual industry achieve maximum benefits from government actions in support of treaty coproduction.

The Policy is another step in the Government’s commitment to coproduction, to position the Canadian audiovisual industry as a partner of choice.  The Policy incorporates input from previous consultations, industry stakeholders’ comments, and internal analysis of national and international approaches to set out the best direction for Government action in support of audiovisual treaty coproduction activity.

On February 4, 2011, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, launched a seven week online consultation on the implementation of this Policy (www.pch.gc.ca/coproductionconsultation). While submissions will be accepted until March 24, 2011(midnight), the discussion forum will end on March 31, 2011(midnight).

Since the new Policy is likely to have an impact on future coproduction treaties to be signed between Canada and other countries, the suspension on new coproduction treaty negotiations remains effective until the completion of the Implementation of Canada’s Policy on Audiovisual Treaty Coproduction.