On September 28, 2017, Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly released the Government of Canada’s Canadian Content strategy for a digital world – Creative Canada. Interactive Ontario was active in the 2016 public consultation and has been very eager to see the federal government’s response to the development of new forms of creative content, business models and audience behaviour.

In particular, Interactive Ontario welcomes the federal government’s commitment to maintaining the Canada Media Fund, supporting creative startups through Creative Hubs and the rolling out of an Export Strategy Fund. Those three strategies have the potential to provide welcome support to Canada’s Interactive Digital Media companies.

“We welcome the government’s recognition that Canadian audiences and Canadian creators have evolved and therefore new policy tools are required to support them,” said Christa Dickenson, President & CEO of Interactive Ontario and Chair of the Canadian Interactive Alliance/Alliance Interactive Canadienne. “Creative Canada shows a lot of promise and we look forward to learning more about its strategies and programs as details are provided.”

Interactive Ontario will monitor the development of Creative Canada to ensure that it supports and encourages the success of Canada’s Interactive Digital Media industry at home and around the world.