Article content continued

The commission is ordering you to provide the number of subscribers by 5 p.m. Monday

What would happen if Mr. Blais made good on his threat lies at the heart of the tension inherent in the hearing. The CRTC has previously ruled that while it could apply the Broadcasting Act to online video providers like Netflix, it chooses not to – the “exemption order” Mr. Blais was referring to.

If Netflix decides not to comply with the order, however, it’s unclear what recourse the CRTC would have. Ms. Wright asserted that while she was happy to help the CRTC in any way she can, Netflix was appearing at the hearing voluntarily and does not consider itself a Canadian broadcaster.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“We are not a licensed broadcaster. We are a foreign entity,” Ms. Wright said.

The company’s Canadian audience is growing while that of the traditional cable providers shrinks, making its presentation the most highly anticipated of the proceedings.

In response to growing competition from Netflix, some organizations – including the Ontario government and the national actor’s union – are proposing that Netflix and other online video providers be required to pay into a fund to support Canadian content, which detractors have dubbed a “Netflix tax.” Members of the Conservative government have made statements throughout the hearing opposing such a move.

Netflix’s position is that requiring it to pay into the Canadian content fund would put it at an unfair disadvantage, since its competitors in traditional broadcasting would be able to draw on it to make programs while Netflix could not.