July 9, 2025 Prime Minister Carney, Minister Guilbeault, and Minister LeBlanc, As your Government continues its trade negotiations with the United States, I write this letter on behalf of Canadian-owned music businesses and artists to express our concern that cultural policy may emerge as a topic, resulting in a potential repeal of or amendment to the Online Streaming Act. Let me be clear: under no circumstances should the Government of Canada consider trading away our hard-fought cultural policy as part of these negotiations. As you know, the Online Streaming Act represents the most significant update to Canada’s broadcasting policy in over three decades. Its purpose is to ensure that all those who participate in our system contribute to it, regardless of country of origin. This law, passed by a Liberal government, led by many of the ministers who now sit around the Cabinet table, will lead to equitable investment in Canadian-owned music companies, artists and arts and culture workers, by foreign owned streaming platforms that for too long, have built market share, revenue and profit here in Canada without being required to contribute back into the sector. Our culture must be a red line. Over the course of the campaign, you made it clear that culture would never be on the negotiating table. “To keep Canada strong, we will protect our culture,” was what you said on the campaign trail. We strongly support that position. We cannot trade away the system that upholds Indigenous cultures, protects minority languages, and underpins a Canadian cultural sector that enables artists and those they work with to tell Canada’s story. This is vital. Who we are as a nation depends on our ability to share in experiences together. Without the policies that ensure a Canadian-owned cultural economy that creates jobs, develops and brings to market Canadian-owned IP through excellent, globally competitive artists within our broadcasting system, this cannot be accomplished. CIMA and its members have been proud to stand with the Government of Canada through the development and implementation of the Online Streaming Act. However, the repeal or significant amendment of the Online Streaming Act in order to appease American trade interests would represent nothing short of a betrayal of Canada’s arts and culture workers, the Canadian-owned cultural economy itself and risks weakening the cultural fabric of the country. It would be a betrayal of the country. We ask you to ensure culture is not part of any trade negotiations with the United States and provide cultural workers the same protections that you afford other workers and industries of Canada. We seek a meeting, urgently, with you to discuss this matter further. Sincerely, Andrew Cash (he/him) President and CEO Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) Mobile: 416-219-1628 www.cimamusic.ca