Quebec’s Streaming Bill Could Kill Your Netflix Library

Quebec recently introduced a new bill to regulate streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify—but critics say it’s both legally shaky and likely to reduce what Quebecers can actually watch or listen to.

Bill 109, introduced by Quebec’s Culture and Communications Minister Matthew Lacombe, aims to boost visibility of French-language content online. But it goes much further than that. The bill proposes mandatory quotas for French-language content on streaming platforms and would give the province power to influence how content is displayed to users.

University of Ottawa law professor Dr. Michael Geist says the bill is almost certain to face a constitutional challenge. Under Canada’s Constitution, broadcasting is a federal responsibility, and courts have repeatedly affirmed that the provinces can’t regulate it. The question is whether streaming counts as broadcasting—something federal regulators are still figuring out.

If streaming is considered broadcasting, Quebec likely can’t impose its own rules. If it’s not, then even Ottawa’s own Online Streaming Act could be at risk.

Beyond the legal fight, critics say Bill 109 may do more harm than good. Streaming services already make French content accessible—Netflix, for example, offers language-based browsing, and Amazon lets users set language preferences.

But the real concern is the quota system. If the government mandates that, say, 30% of content be in French, services might simply cut English or other content to meet that threshold, leaving Quebecers with fewer options overall. In some cases, platforms may even consider pulling out of Quebec entirely rather than deal with the added regulatory cost. Are you prepared to see your favourite streaming service in Quebec end up with a gutted library?

Non-video platforms like Spotify and podcast apps could also be hit, with unclear rules on how to ensure a percentage of French-language content—especially when content is user-generated.

To avoid the fallout, the bill allows for private settlements between platforms and the province. But that approach is drawing comparisons to Canada’s failed Online News Act, which led Meta to block news links on Facebook and Instagram.

While Ottawa’s streaming law has its critics, Dr. Geist argues that Quebec’s attempt to go it alone with Bill 109 is even more problematic—legally, practically, and for consumers.