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Michel Sabbagh

Director General, Canadian Heritage (PCH)9 communications in the past year

Lobbied by

Blue Ant Media

6

Policies with respect to production funding and tax credits Discuss whether consumer shows are within the gambit of the Ministry of Tourism's policies or programs. Broadcasting Policies related to Specialty Television Industry policies with respect to foreign ownership

Broadcasting policies and regulations related to the television industry, foreign ownership, production funding, media funding, and tax credits to support innovation for Canadian independent broadcaster-producers. Advocacy related to the Canada Periodical Fund.

News Media Canada

4

Ensure retailer flyer printing and distribution in Canada remains competitive. At a time when the news publishing industry is facing soaring costs due to inflation, advertising competition from foreign Big Tech giants, and the theft of journalistic content by AI companies, ensure Canada Post offers community newspaper publishers the same rates and level of service they are offering to the dominant commercial printer in Canada. Ensure there is healthy competition in the flyer printing and distribution markets across Canada. Amend the definition of a Qualified Canadian Journalism organization (QCJO), requiring that an organization regularly employ two or more journalists to include: journalists who do not deal at arm’s length with the organization. This would generally include owners/partners who actively pursue, research, analyze, explain, edit, format, design, write or report the news, or select, plan, or assign work, in accordance with journalistic processes and principles. They would work, on average, a minimum of 26 hours per week and spend at least 75% of their time engaged in the production of original written news content, including researching, collecting information, verifying facts, photographing, writing, editing, designing and otherwise preparing content. To halt the theft of copyright protected news content, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Treasury Board should ensure those on the government’s list of interested artificial intelligence suppliers sign a "supplier commitment to support the Government of Canada’s effort in leading the way on ethical AI” that includes a commitment to the principles of transparency, consent, and attribution with respect to all copyright-protected source content. Ensure that the Online News Act continues and that funding is distributed in accordance with the Act and its Regulations. Ensure social media services covered by the Online News Act do not allow publisher content to be reproduced (screen shots, copied text, etc.) without providing compensation to news businesses. Protect intellectual property by preventing LLMs from scraping journalistic content. Ensure search engines cannot abuse their dominant position by de-indexing Canadian news sites if publishers block their AI bots from crawling our protected content without consent, credit, and compensation. Ensure any policy changes to the Aid to Publishers component of the Canadian Periodical Fund take into account the importance of the program, especially to smaller rural community newspapers. Align the Government of Canada advertising policy with the Government of Canada's "Buy Canadian Policy" by directing the Agency of Record to ensure a minimum of 25% of the Government of Canada domestic advertising budget to Canadian private sector news businesses. Ensure Canada Post continues to perform its vital role deliver community newspapers to Canadians. Have Canada Post return to the long-standing policy of exempting community newspapers with commercial inserts (e.g., flyers from local hardware and grocery franchisees) from the Consumers’ Choice program. Community newspapers with commercial inserts are not ‘junk mail’. Ensure that the Copyright Act is not modified through an exception permitting Text and Data Mining (TDM) allowing AI companies to use Canadian news publishers' protected works to train generative AI systems without consent, credit, or compensation. For transparency and to facilitate verification of eligible news publishers under the Online News Act, make the list of Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations public. Keep advertising in dollars in Canada by closing the loophole in Section 19 of the Income Tax Act that allows for the deductibility of foreign internet advertising. Maintaining the Canadian Journalism Labour Tax Credit at 35%. Abuse of dominance and anti?competitive business practices related to online search, search advertising and display advertising services in Canada. Extending the Local Journali

Québecor Média

4

Discussions regarding Canada's digital sovereignty opportunities, priorities and challenges, including policies, investments, innovation and procurement related matters. Ordonnances du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes visant les télécommunications. Développement de la fibre. Internet: accès des tiers ( revendeurs) aux réseaux , politique de financement de dépoiement de réseaux, examen des pratiques de gestion du trafic des fournisseurs d'accès internet, la neutralité de réseau et ses enjeux . Téléphonie : politique et coût d'accès aux structures de soutènement. Subvention des réseaux en régions éloignées. Services sans fil et politique/tarification des services de gros (itinérance, partage de pylônes, réseaux virtuels). Téléphonie sans fil. Politique: Conditions de licence concernant l'itinérance obligatoire, le partage des pylônes d'antennes et des emplacements, ainsi que l'interdiction des emplacements exclusifs. Politique: Systèmes d'antennes de radiocommunications et de radiodiffusion. (Consultations publiques) Politique: Cadre de délivrance de licences pour les services mobiles à large bande (enchères de spectre ). Programme: L'accès aux services internet à large bande dans les régions rurales du Canada. Gestion du spectre des radiofréquences. Rencontre ayant pour objectif d'explorer les possibilités de faire évoluer les normes de services du BCPAC pour permettre un versement anticipé des crédits d'impôt à hauteur de 75% du montant dû, ainsi que réduire les coûts d'analyse des dossiers déposés pour les crédits d'impôt. Échanges relatifs au projet de loi S-209; aspects et impacts en matière de télécommunications. Loi sur le soutien en matière d’accès autorisé à de l’information (projet de loi C-22). Édition et publication : accès au programme d'aide aux publications canadienne, magazines et services en ligne; Programmes de soutien à l’électrification de la flotte de véhicules; Investissement publicitaire dans les médias privés. Loi sur les télécommunications: principe de neutralité du net. Politique réglementaire de télécom CRTC 2009-657: examen des pratiques de gestion du trafic Internet et des fournisseurs de services Internet. Décision de télécom CRTC 2010-445: modifications au cadre d'abstention concernant les services de données mobiles sans fil. Projet de loi C-10 , Loi modifiant la Loi sur la radiodiffusion et apportant des modifications connexes et corrélatives à d'autres lois, alléger le fardeau réglementaire et administratif , équité avec les joueurs étrangers et révision du mandat de Radio-Canada; Loi sur le droit d'auteur , changement à la loi afin de reconnaître les droits voisins; Programme de financement des longs métrages canadiens Nouveaux médias;diffusion sur internet et multiplateforme; débat sur la réglementation et la taxation . Instances de politique ou autre initiées par le CRTC ( services de vidéo en ligne,diversité des voix, accessibilité, règlements de différends,etc). Fonds des médias du Canada: orientation, administration et financement. Demandes ou modifications de licences pour les services spécialisés ou chaînes conventionnelles pour Groupe TVA et pour les services de télédistribution de Vidéotron.

Directors Guild of Canada

3

Position Canadian directors and storytellers as global ambassadors of cultural sovereignty and creative excellence through international partnerships and export programs. - Promote the visibility of Canadian directors and works at international markets and festivals. - Support mobility, co-production, and export opportunities for Canadian creative talent. - Advocate for the inclusion of directors’ authorship and cultural diplomacy objectives in international trade and cultural agreements. Ensure Canada’s screen industries remain globally competitive through tax incentives, fair labour practices, and investment in talent. Promote tax and financing mechanisms that encourage private investment in Canadian-owned intellectual property. Advocate for modernized funding models through Telefilm Canada, the CMF, and provincial agencies. Ensure that the evolution of AI and digital tools strengthens, not replaces, human creativity and artistic authorship. Advocate for a human-centred approach to AI governance that protects creators’ rights and preserves artistic integrity. Support clear rules for AI training, use, remuneration and attribution in audiovisual productions. Advance the recognition and protection of directors and screenwriters as primary authors of audiovisual works in Canadian law and international treaties. Support collective management and equitable remuneration for the use of Canadian audiovisual works worldwide. Defend creative and moral rights in digital environments and oppose any weakening of authorship or copyright protections. Strengthen Canada’s audiovisual and cultural ecosystem by ensuring that directors and creative authors are recognized, supported, and central to cultural policy. Advocate for sustained and equitable funding for Canadian feature films, scripted series, and documentaries. Support the implementation of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) in a way that ensures meaningful opportunities for Canadian creators and independent producers.

Cable Public Affairs Channel

2

Interim funding to support CPAC as a public interest broadcaster. Discuss the need to protect 9.1.1.h, from the Broadcasting Act, public interest broadcasters.

Compass Rose Group

IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada)

2

Review of CRTC Roadmap Workforce Development and Training supports - requesting partnership for a workforce needs assessment of the film and TV sector and the stage and stage craft sector. Ongoing concerns with CUSMA; Canada/US trade relationship Seeking a change to the Income Tax Act to amend the definition of "labour expenditure" and "Canadian labour expenditure" in the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Development of a Labour Based Live Performance Tax Credit;

Public Affairs Counsel

IATSE - International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

2

Review of CRTC Roadmap Workforce Development and Training supports - requesting partnership for a workforce needs assessment of the film and TV sector and the stage and stage craft sector. Ongoing concerns with CUSMA; Canada/US trade relationship. Providing information regarding the impact of CUSMA on IATSE membership; ensuring that Canada/US trade issues do not negatively impact jobs Seeking retirement security through the film and television tax credits. This could be achieved by amending the definition of "labour expenditure" in 125.4(1) and "Canadian labour expenditure" in 125.5(1) of the Income Tax Act to explicitly include employer contributions to a Registered Pension Plan (RPP). Development of a Labour Based Live Performance Tax Credit Seeking funds for training;

ICI Télévision (CFHD-DT Montréal)

2

Discuss amendments to the Broadcasting Act and the tax credit regime for Canadian programming.

Rumble Canada

2

Communicating with government and other members of the House of Commons about Bill C-216 An Act to enact the Protection of Minors in the Digital Age Act and to amend two Acts Communicating with the Government of Canada about broadcasting policy, including the governing of online content. Communicating with the Government of Canada about Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada, as it relates to obligations and opportunities Communicating with the government about Bill C-63, An Act to enact the Online Harms Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts

Crestview Strategy

ACTRA Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists

1

Detail title: Bill S-206 - National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Aspects that are the object of the lobbying: Supporting Bill S-206, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income, with respect to ensuring that the framework considers the economic circumstances of professional performers and other self-employed, contract and intermittent workers in Canada's cultural sector. Title: International Mobility Program and Business Visitor Provisions for Performers in Commercial and Audiovisual Production Description: ACTRA is seeking to better understand how the International Mobility Program - including the C-14 significant benefit work permit exemption (IRPR R205(a)) for film and television production workers - and the business visitor exemption (IRPR R186(a)) are applied, consulted on, and monitored as they relate to international performers working in Canada's audiovisual sector, with particular focus on commercial and advertising production. ACTRA is exploring whether existing consultation practices and regulatory thresholds appropriately balance Canada's interest in facilitating international productions and skilled talent mobility with protecting work opportunities for Canadian performers. Title: Labour protections for performers in digital and AI-mediated productions Description: Federal labour policy and labour standards as they apply to performers working in digital, online, and artificial intelligence-mediated productions, including collective bargaining protections, enforceability of performer rights, and measures addressing precarious work and non-traditional production models in the screen-based industries. Title: International trade negotiations affecting Canada's audiovisual and cultural sector Description: Government of Canada positions in international trade negotiations and reviews, including Canada-United States discussions and the CUSMA review process, as they relate to cultural policy measures, broadcasting regulation, online streaming obligations, and the economic impact on employment and production in Canada's audiovisual sector. Title: Federal procurement standards for advertising and communications production Description: Federal government procurement policies and contracting practices for advertising and communications services, including the application of performer labour standards, requirements for union-covered productions, and ethical procurement expectations for the use of performers and creative services in government-funded advertising and public communications. Title: Use of copyrighted performances in artificial intelligence training and generative AI systems Description: Amendments to Canada's Copyright Act and related policy measures regarding the use of copyrighted performances and audiovisual works in the training and operation of artificial intelligence systems, including requirements for consent, compensation, and recognition of performers' moral rights, as well as protections against unauthorized reproduction, voice cloning, and synthetic performances. Title: Federal artificial intelligence governance framework and performer rights protections Description: Development of the Government of Canada's artificial intelligence policy and regulatory framework, including the forthcoming national AI strategy, with respect to consent requirements for the use of performers' name, image and likeness, digital identity protections, reputational harm, takedown and enforcement mechanisms, and accountability obligations for AI systems that generate or replicate performances. Copyright legislation – Updating Canada's Copyright Act to implement the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright and Audio Visual Treaties and deal with threats from unchecked generative artificial intelligence to performers' livelihoods. Bill C-27 with respect to artificial intelligence and future regulations to protect the rights of Canadian performers from its misuse

Recent activity

Jun 16, 2026
Apr 24, 2026
Feb 26, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
Oct 22, 2025
May 16, 2024
Daniel Moulton contacted Michel Sabbagh on behalf of Hot Docs
Apr 23, 2024
Jan 23, 2024
Dec 4, 2023
Nov 20, 2023
May 30, 2023
May 15, 2023
Philippe Jetté contacted Michel Sabbagh on behalf of Cogeco
May 2, 2023
Apr 25, 2023
Apr 21, 2023
Apr 5, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 13, 2023
Mar 2, 2023
Feb 3, 2023