President’s Message
Redefining CanCon
November 20, 2025
Dear ACTRA Toronto members,
On November 18, 2025, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) – the agency responsible for regulating broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada – released its long-awaited decision updating the definition of Canadian content (CanCon) for television and online streaming services. This is the first major modernization of CanCon criteria in a generation and will have a huge impact on our screen-based industry. The new rules will better reflect how content is produced today and will apply to everything from animation to games, hybrids to digital short-form and other projects that rely heavily on Canadian voice talent, not just on-camera performers.
While the CRTC’s previous CanCon definition was built around traditional live-action production, the new framework recognizes a huge portion of contemporary Canadian storytelling happens through voice – in animation, dubbing, narration, podcasts and mixed-reality content. We know these sectors are growing globally. They are also sectors in which Canadian performers have a deep talent pool and competitive advantage.
So, what does this new definition of CanCon mean for Canadian performers? Because it expands the recognition of Canadian creative leadership and participation, it creates a clearer path for projects that are driven by Canadian voices to qualify as Canadian content. This includes productions where voice performance is central to storytelling, tone, cultural identity and character creation.
Specifically, the new definition can benefit voice performers because:
- Producers and platforms now have more reason to cast Canadian voice actors if they want their projects to qualify as Canadian content.
- Canadian control in key creative roles must be meaningful, which strengthens opportunities for Canadian directors of animation, voice directors, writers, editors, sound designers and performance leads.
- The updated definition is more in sync with how animation and games are made. Voice performance is recognized as real artistic authorship, not an accessory to on-camera work.
- As streamers face upcoming spending requirements, voice-driven sectors could see growth in domestic commissioning.
- The CanCon system now signals that Canadian creators contribute not only through geography or financing but through the originality of their voices, literally and figuratively.
The new definition also clarifies that key creative positions used to qualify as Canadian content (such as the first lead performer or first voice performer) should be held by humans and not artificial intelligence. While this clarification is important for all performers, it is especially important for voice performers who work on dubbing.
Keep an eye on this page for more information about upcoming CRTC decisions and what they mean for Canadian performers. A helpful FAQ is also included below about this most recent decision.
In solidarity,
Kate Ziegler
ACTRA Toronto President
FAQ
What does this mean specifically for voice performers?
It is a major step forward. The old CanCon rules were built around live-action production. Today, some of the most successful Canadian shows are animated or hybrid. The new definition explicitly acknowledges Canadian voice performance as core creative authorship. It means more opportunities for Canadian voice actors to lead series, franchises and dubbing work, and it makes Canadian voice casting a strategic advantage for producers seeking certification.
Will this actually increase animation and video game work in Canada?
There is a real potential. The updated definition makes it easier for animated and game-related content to qualify as Canadian. When you combine that with the hopeful upcoming spending obligations for streamers, we can expect more Canadian-led animation and interactive projects, and stronger demand for Canadian voice talent.
Could foreign-owned companies still circumvent the spirit of the rules?
We will all be watching closely. The CRTC requires Canadians to maintain meaningful control and benefit. That includes who leads the creative process and who performs the work. ACTRA Toronto will continue pressing for real Canadian creative leadership, not token credits or paperwork-only compliance.
Is this mostly symbolic or does it have real impact?
It has real impact. Animation and games are global industries, and performers in those sectors often lose work to jurisdictions that are cheaper or have more flexible rules. Now, Canadian voice actors are directly connected to a regulatory advantage. Producers who cast Canadian talent gain clearer and faster pathways to CanCon certification.
How does the decision about the use of AI in Canadian productions impact performers?
It clarifies that key creative positions used to qualify as Canadian content (such as the first lead performer or first voice performer) should be held by humans, not artificial intelligence. The CRTC recognizes AI may be used as a tool to assist in the creation of Canadian content, but it is only humans who should have creative control to support economic opportunities and remuneration for Canadians creators. While this clarification is important for all performers, it is especially important for voice performers who work on dubbing.