A pattern worth watching:

Canada says it wants more Canadian stories, stronger cultural industries, and greater economic sovereignty.

At the same time, Ottawa is asking the CRTC to reconsider its decision requiring major streaming services to contribute more to Canadian content, citing affordability concerns and broader trade considerations.

The question isn’t whether Canadian culture matters. Most Canadians would agree that it does.

The real question is who should pay for it.

Canadian taxpayers? Canadian consumers through higher subscription fees? Or the global platforms earning revenue from Canadian audiences?

As with so many issues, the challenge isn’t choosing between good and bad options. It’s deciding which trade-offs we’re willing to make.