A recent study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives called for the CRTC to end the Digital Media Exemption Order (DMEO) and begin regulating over the top (OTT) video providers such as YouTube and Netflix. The author called for the companies to collect and remit HST and to contribute 5 per cent of their gross revenues to a Canadian production fund as traditional cable companies presently do. While I agree that some of the concerns are valid, chiefly that Netflix is receiving a cost advantage over Canadian services because they do not charge HST, the solution: “The CRTC must remove the New Media Exemption Order for all OTT services” is where we part ways.

Read the full article at TheSpec.com

First published July 25, 2016 in the Hamilton Spectator.