3.6 Canadian Content Points
Canadian television production
Both CAVCO and the CRTC use points-based certification frameworks to determine whether audiovisual productions qualify as “Canadian”. These certification frameworks are essential for Canadian broadcasters to demonstrate compliance with their regulatory requirements, including Canadian programming expenditures (CPE).
CAVCO uses a point scale, which assigns points to key creative production roles occupied by Canadians to determine (in conjunction with other eligibility criteria) if a film or television program is eligible to access the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC). Other funding mechanisms such as Telefilm Canada, various Certified Independent Production Funds (CIPFs) and the CMF use the same scale. [14]
To be certified as Canadian content, a film or television program (other than an audiovisual treaty coproduction) must obtain a minimum of six points, up to a maximum of 10 points.[15] The significant majority of Canadian television programs obtain the maximum 10 Canadian content points and this share has remained relatively stable over the past decade. In 2023/24, 10-point production reached a 10-year high in terms of share at 77% of total Canadian television production, before dipping to 73% in 2024/25.
On November 18, 2025, the CRTC announced a new definition of Canadian content for broadcasting regulation, including a new Canadian content points system. The CRTC’s new definition had not yet been implemented at the time of writing. [16] Among other things, the CRTC’s modernized Canadian content points system will award up to 14 points across 11 different key creative roles for live action productions and 15 points across 12 different key creative roles for animation productions.
The CRTC has also introduced bonus points for “Canadian key creative elements”, awarding one additional point each for the use of identifiable Canadian characters and settings, audiovisual works based on Canadian written works, and where more than 50% of the musical selections in the audiovisual work are Canadian. [17]
For clarity, the CRTC’s new certification framework is for the purposes of meeting regulatory obligations as set out by the Commission and does not alter the existing CAVCO point system. CAVCO uses the points system specifically for the purpose of qualifying production for the CPTC. Other funding bodies, such as the CMF and Telefilm Canada, also require productions to meet minimum points for CAVCO/CPTC certification, before receiving direct funding.
Exhibit 3-13 Television production by Canadian content points (excludes audiovisual treaty coproduction)
Source:
Estimates based on data collected from CAVCO.
Note:
*Includes all productions (other than audiovisual treaty coproductions) for which Canadians occupied all of the key creative positions as defined by CAVCO, even if not all key creative point positions were occupied. For example, a television program with only one lead performer would receive 9 out of 9 points, rather than 10 out of 10 points. A similar mapping of points has been done to give all productions a score out of 10 points for the purposes of this exhibit. For example, a television program that receives 7 out of 9 points would be represented as an 8-out-of-10-point production.