Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe has tabled Bill 109, aiming to compel streaming giants like Netflix, Disney, and Spotify to prioritize French-language content. The bill introduces a “visibility quota,” requiring digital platforms to not only carry French content but also ensure it is easily discoverable.
Bill 109, over a year in development, is part of Quebec’s broader cultural strategy to protect the French language in the digital space. Inspired by similar European Union policies, the bill does not limit French content quotas to Quebec-made productions, but rather embraces global Francophone content.
Lacombe stressed the bill aligns with Canada’s trade agreements, though he acknowledged that the Trump administration might view it as a trade irritant. Quebec intends to invoke the cultural exemption clause in CUSMA if challenged.
The legislation would also require default French-language interfaces on platforms and streaming devices. Companies failing to comply would face financial penalties, although “substitute measures” could be negotiated for those unable to fully meet the bill’s demands.
Currently, only 8.5% of music streamed in Quebec is in French. Lacombe hopes this bill will reverse that trend and help younger generations reconnect with the language.
The proposal arrives during a CRTC public hearing on new definitions for Canadian content under the Online Streaming Act, sparking tensions between domestic producers and international platforms.
Source: Swifteradio.com
