Lobbying registration dated 2026-02-17
Registrant: Marie Kelly
Client: ACTRA Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists
Targeted institutions:
Canadian Heritage (PCH)
National Film Board (NFB)
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Finance Canada (FIN)
Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
House of Commons
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)
Privy Council Office (PCO)
Senate of Canada
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
Legislative bills: C-11
C-27
Acts: Broadcasting Act
Copyright Act
Income Tax Act
Status of the Artist Act
Government funding received:
Lobbying activity details:
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.
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.
Factoring in diversity for groups or entities receiving public funding.
Status of the Artist Act, with respect to the ongoing improvement of the socio-economic circumstances of Canadian artists.
Bill C-27 with respect to artificial intelligence and future regulations to protect the rights of Canadian performers from its misuse.
Income Tax averaging for Artists: Propose amendments to the Income Tax Act to re-instate income tax averaging for artists.
National Film Board, with respect to increased, longterm government investment.
Canadian Media Fund, with respect to increased longterm government investment and the maintenance of Canadian content requirements for eligibility.
Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, with respect to amending the Broadcasting Act, the use of Canadian talent, Canadian ownership in the broadcasting system, and future regulation of online undertakings.
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: 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.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, with respect to increased, longterm government investment.
Television, broadcasting and telecommunications regulation as it relates to programming and Canadian content.
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.
Telefilm Canada, with respect to increased, longterm government investment.