"Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you today, and to close out this important CRTC hearing.

The objectives of the Broadcasting Act are not just symbolic—they’re essential. They give us the tools we need to support and promote Canada’s unique voices and stories.

This hearing is a turning point. What happens here will shape the future of Canadian creators, the independent production sector, the Canadian broadcasting system and Canada itself.

And in today’s international broadcasting landscape, relying on light regulation or voluntary incentives just doesn’t cut it. They’re not enough to ensure Canadian content survives—let alone thrives. Only clear spending requirements on drama, comedies, feature film, long form documentaries and children’s stories, and a robust definition of Canadian content with Canadian directors and writers central to the modern framework, will achieve this.

The uncertainty we’ve all experienced over the past few years—and especially in these last several months—has made one thing clear: preserving our cultural sovereignty is not optional. It’s urgent.

Broadcasters and foreign streamers both have a critical role here. We implore you: please do not leave our storytelling in the hands of anyone other than Canadians. We must be the caretakers of Canadian and Indigenous stories.

Our national sovereignty and cultural identity depend on it."