Canada is not known for oppressive internet censorship. However, the introduction of Bill C-11, also called the Online Streaming Act, means government institutions will soon get more control over online content.
The intent of Bill C-11 is to promote Canadian content online. Though the intent is not malicious, the CRTC (Canada’s broadcast media regulator) will get the mandate to control what gets recommended on your favorite streaming platforms.
Want to keep watching content that you like? If you’re located in Canada, you can use a VPN to get around any internet restrictions. For Canada users, we recommend NordVPN. This VPN provider has fast servers, excellent security features, and great unblocking capabilities!
Below you can find more information about censorship in Canada and Bill C-11, as well as our full list of the best Canada VPNs.
When you think of internet censorship, Canada is likely not the first country that comes to mind. But with Bill C-11, or what is known as the Online Streaming Act, in its final stages of implementation, the digital media landscape is about to change.
Bill C-11 grants the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) more regulatory power over online content. As a Canadian viewer, this will influence your freedom of choice on streaming platforms.
Luckily, you can use NordVPN to stream any content you want! Make use of our exclusive deal and get the #1 VPN for Canada today.
Below, we catch you up on the current status of Bill C-11 and tell you how a VPN can get you around internet censorship in Canada.
Overview: The State of Media Censorship in Canada
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms grants citizens the right to freedom of thought, belief, and expression. While Canada comes nowhere near North Korea’s internet censorship, recent legislative measures grant the Canadian government increasing control over digital media.
An overview of key developments:
- In April 2023, Bill C-11, introduced by Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, passed through the House of Commons. The bill aims to promote Canadian content (CanCon) and gives greater power to the CRTC to regulate audio-visual content.
- The bill primarily targets online streaming services like Netflix, though platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify will also feel the effects.
- Bill C-11 has been criticized for giving the CRTC the power to determine which content is considered worthy of promotion, as well as the potential impact on user-generated content.
- Currently, the Senate is reviewing Bill C-11. When implemented, browsing, watching, and streaming will be a different experience.
Below, we have included more detailed information about the current state of media censorship in Canada.
Journalism and freedom of the press
Canada generally demonstrates a strong commitment to press freedom. Media outlets can operate independently, both in print and online. Political parties do not exercise any control over the media, though media bias in Canada is present, naturally.
Regardless of its foundation, there is still room for improvement based on the following past events:
- In 2016, news broke that Montreal police had been spying on seven journalists, keeping track of their outgoing and incoming phone records. In general, First Nations communities and journalists still face challenges and disparities regarding media freedom.
- In 2017, journalist Justin Brake was arrested for reporting on indigenous-led resistance protests at Muskrat Falls.
- Notably, there is also a clear concentration of power in the Canadian media landscape: over 80% of all media is owned by just five corporations.
Broadcast media: CanCon
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission regulate broadcast media in Canada. Generally, the power of the CRTC to regulate broadcast content is only exercised in the most serious of cases.
However, over the last two years, the CRTC has been granted a lot more authority. They have determined that all broadcasters must air a minimum amount of Canadian content, colloquially called “CanCon.” The breakdown is as follows:
- 35% of commercial radio stations
- 50% of CBC and Radio Canada stations
- 55% of all programming on broadcast television stations
This is a type of censorship, even if it aims to promote Canadian creators. Regulators have been criticized for allowing a subjective understanding of what qualifies as “Canadian content.”
Bill C-11 can further promote CanCon and Canadian censorship, especially on streaming services. However, if you don’t want to be limited in your streaming experience, use a virtual private network (VPN). With a VPN, you can access any streaming library, anywhere in the world, from Canada. NordVPN has an exclusive deal that gives you three extra months for free!
Telecommunications
Three mobile service providers in Canada dominate the market. Together, Bell, TELUS, and Rogers serve 90.2% of wireless subscribers.
Many Canadian citizens feel that these options are limiting and that it allows the companies to keep the prices artificially high. Indeed, Canada’s wireless prices are some of the highest in the world.
On top of that, it makes the network very vulnerable to widespread outages. For instance, in July 2022, more than 10 million Canadians were cut off from their internet and wireless services following a massive outage at Rogers.
Internet censorship and content regulation
Content regulation tends to be limited in Canada, though Bill C-11 is about to change things.
- The government of Canada does not generally block IP addresses or filter websites, nor does it force internet service providers (ISPs) to do so. In 2018, a Quebec law that would allow ISPs to block access to online gambling websites was struck down by the Quebec Superior Court.
- In November 2019, all major ISPs in Canada received a court order to block domains associated with copyright infringement. Users could not access these websites via the domain name system and blocking of IP addresses.
- Bloggers and online commentators are free to speak their minds on political and social issues as long as this does not violate the hate speech provisions in Canada’s criminal code. Online harassment, such as cyberstalking, is both a criminal threat offense and an actionable civil tort.
Previous to Bill C-11, the CRTC came under fire for consultation on a different blocking initiative designed “to strengthen Canadians’ online safety.” This strategy’s aim was to regulate websites infected with botnets and received criticism for its blocking of legitimate websites.
Pro Tip:
Using a virtual private network is the easiest and best way to circumvent censorship, including in Canada. For only a couple of dollars a month, you’ll be able to bypass restrictions imposed by Bill C-11.
Bill C-11: More Harm Than Good?
There has been a lot of debate regarding the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) throughout 2022, and many people believe it will do more harm than good. Bill C-11 is an updated version of the previous Bill C-10 that seeks to further expand the CRTC’s reach.
The focus of the bill is on CRTC-mandated regulations for the “discoverability” requirements on audio-visual streaming platforms. But what does this mean, and how can it affect ordinary Canadians?
What does Bill C-11 do?
Bill C-11 modernizes the Broadcasting Act of 1991 in order to account for the increase in digital media. In essence, the bill is meant to put the “needs and interests” of Canadians first by focusing on the promotion of Canadian content online.
Large social media platforms and streaming services will be compelled to support CanCon, and essentially this form of censorship in Canada, on their platforms by improving the discoverability of Canadian content. Essentially, this means you will be recommended specific content on your favorite streaming services.
With Bill C-11, the CRTC can require all broadcasters to comply with new conditions and obligations, including making contributions to the Canada Media Fund and giving prominence to Canadian content. Some are supportive of the Act, while others fear that it sets a dangerous precedent for control.
Why is Bill C-11 controversial?
There are several reasons why some consider Bill C-11 an imperfect and controversial bill, and we outline some of them below.
CanCon
As for the CanCon regulations on broadcasting media, the parameters for what is considered “Canadian content” are painfully vague. Some creators might fly under the radar, while others will receive disproportionate attention.
A show like The Handmaid’s Tale, for example, though based on the work by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, does not qualify as “CanCon.” Similarly, productions filmed in Canada, which employ Canadian nationals, might also not qualify.
Moreover, there’s a risk that the CRTC will reinforce a limited and monolithic idea of what it means for something to be “Canadian.”
User-generated content
While the CRTC claims that the bill will not affect user-generated content, the scope of the bill does extend to other platforms like Twitch and TikTok. Moreover, there have been many contradictory statements regarding major online content creators.
Critics fear serious infringements on freedom of expression and an incentive for self-censorship. TikTok won’t be the only social media platform where users must satisfy CRTC-approved requirements to stay popular and relevant.
Power to censor
Bill C-11 grants the CRTC an unusual amount of regulatory power. It sets a precedent that the government decides what content is and isn’t worthy of promotion and attention. This will limit the diversity of content on both user-generated platforms as well as streaming services.
While the legislation may have good intentions, the reality is that, in its current form, it does more harm than good. Moreover, it’s a shocking display of censorship that is in clear contrast with Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom.
Why Does Canada Censor the Internet?
In Canada, internet censorship is not strict but still aims to gain some form of control. For example, the purpose of the Great Firewall of China is to filter out any website or app that could threaten China’s national security.
In places like India, censorship easily shapes public opinion. This is not entirely the same for Canada:
- In part, bills such as the Online Streaming Act are economically motivated. Streaming sites have become immensely popular in the last couple of years. Bill C-11 will put certain limitations on their market power.
- Under Bill C-11, big social media corporations and streaming platforms will have to prioritize CanCon on their platforms, as well as contribute financially to the Canadian Media Fund.
- There’s an inherent tension between the desire for net neutrality vs. content moderation. Lack of moderation has been linked to the rise in online extremism. However, giving governments the power to determine which content is and isn’t allowed sets a dangerous precedent, as evidenced by censorship in Russia.
For the Canadian government, the aim of the Online Streaming Act might not be to increase censorship. Unfortunately, it might be an inevitable outcome.
How Can a VPN Help You Get Around Canadian Censorship?
Luckily, there’s a way around Canadian censorship restrictions: using a virtual private network. With a VPN, you can access the online content you want and not miss out on things like your favorite foreign shows or movies on streaming sites.
Below we list some ways a VPN can help you get around censorship in Canada:
- It changes your IP: With a virtual private network, you can change your IP address and unblock content worldwide. This is because a VPN can connect you to foreign servers. If you do this, your own (Canadian) IP address will automatically change to the IP address of this server.
- A good VPN offers obfuscated servers: Premium VPN providers will offer servers with obfuscation technology, which will hide the fact you are using a VPN while allowing you to access the content you want.
- It provides a kill switch: This is an extremely useful tool as it cuts off your connection to the internet if the VPN stops working. Hence, you do not risk revealing your location to third parties.
And the best thing? VPN providers like NordVPN are completely legal in Canada and work flawlessly, considering the wide access to VPN servers.
Besides these benefits, most VPNs have special features that keep you even safer online. But how do you know which VPN to choose for Canada?
How to Choose the Best VPN for Canada
For Canadian users, it will be pertinent that your VPN allows you to bypass VPN blocks and other restrictions to overcome internet censorship in Canada. On top of that, when using a VPN in Canada, you want your provider to be reliable, fast, and easy to use. When determining our best VPNs for Canada, we paid specific attention to the following characteristics:
- Encryption: It’s important that your VPN protects your data. You’ll want to choose a provider that offers a high standard of encryption, as well as a variety of VPN protocols.
- Privacy: An essential element of online security is a VPN’s privacy policy. You’re best off with a VPN that doesn’t log any personal data, also known as a no-log VPN.
- Server network: The more extensive a VPN server network, the easier it is to unblock content worldwide. For Canadians, this is especially important with the looming restrictions on streaming platforms.
- Speed: While it’s not the most essential element in choosing a VPN, you don’t want to be stuck with a slow VPN that makes browsing impossible.
- Customer service: When using a VPN in Canada, you want to be able to quickly reach out to customer service in case there are any issues with your VPN. Ideally, the VPN provider should offer a 24/7 live chat.
Of course, the best VPN for Canada is one that scores exceptionally well on all these fronts and is also affordable. This is why NordVPN is certainly the best Canada VPN around.
If you are looking for a free VPN, we recommend checking out our recommendations list of the best free VPN services. Keep in mind, however, that using a free VPN often comes with certain limitations.
Top 5 Best VPNs for Canada: Easily Bypass Censorship in Canada
Every day, we rigorously test dozens of VPNs to give you the best recommendations. Looking for a VPN to use in Canada? No need to look further! Here’s a comparison of each VPN’s main features.
| Features | NordVPN | Surfshark | CyberGhost | ExpressVPN | PIA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of servers | 5,800+ | 3,200+ | 9,700+ | 3,000+ | 33,000+ |
| Number of countries | 60 | 100 | 91 | 94 | 84 |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, Lightway | OpenVPN, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP |
| Price | From $3.99 a month | From $2.30 a month | From $2.11 a month | From $6.67 a month | From $2.19 a month |
| Unblock social media | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access streaming platforms | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Purchase | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost | Get ExpressVPN | Get PIA |
1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Canada
What We Like
- Ultra fast servers for streaming
- Top-notch 256-bit encryption
- Multi-Hop feature
- Specialized servers for torrenting
- 1,970+ servers in the United States
What We Don't Like
- Maximum of six devices
NordVPN is the best Canada VPN for many reasons. While testing NordVPN, we enjoyed high speeds and had access to an extensive server network. We were also pleased to see that the provider offered robust encryption and that we could use NordVPN to unblock content from anywhere.
Features:
- Security: NordVPN’s AES-256 encryption and security protocols protected us from online threats. Its Multi-Hop feature provided an extra layer of security by running our traffic via two servers.
- Streaming capability: NordVPN is one of the best streaming VPNs in the world. Its obfuscation technology (which hides VPN use from your internet service provider) allowed us to stream Netflix content worldwide.
- User-friendliness: The software was easy to navigate, its servers were very fast, and we could contact customer service via live chat at any point.
- Simultaneous connections: You can have six simultaneous connections with NordVPN and use various devices and operating systems like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.
- Specialized servers for torrenting: There are special torrenting servers (P2P) and even servers exclusively designed for The Onion Router (Tor network servers).
You can try NordVPN for 30 days if you use their money-back guarantee. This allows you to use the VPN risk-free for a whole month!
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
2. Surfshark: Excellent budget VPN for Canada
What We Like
- Affordable subscription plans
- Unlimited devices on one account
- Kill switch and split tunneling feature
- CleanWeb gets rid of trackers and ads
- Fastest VPN of the moment
What We Don't Like
- Fewer servers in the US (but still 600+)
While testing Surfshark, we discovered that it offers a wide range of features and has some of the most affordable subscription plans on the market.
Features:
- Security: We were pleased to see that Surfshark has several features that enhance your online security, including a kill switch, split tunneling feature, and an ad blocker that gets rid of annoying ads.
- Streaming capability: This VPN can bypass restrictions and censorship in Canada for all major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video.
- User-friendliness: Surfshark’s application for Windows, iOS, and Android is one of the most-user friendly in the market. We could connect to the app with a single click, and we didn’t even notice Surfshark running in the background.
- Simultaneous connections: Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can share your account with friends and family and save even more money.
Want to try Surfshark for free for a month? Make use of their 30-day money-back guarantee now!
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
3. CyberGhost: Very user-friendly VPN for Canada
What We Like
- Cheapest subscription packages
- AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, malware blocker
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Optimized servers for gaming and P2P
- Unblocks big streaming platforms (Hulu, Disney Plus, Netflix)
What We Don't Like
- No obfuscation technology
CyberGhost is another reliable VPN that has low prices on its subscription plans. Actually, at the moment, it is the cheapest VPN you can find, and during our CyberGhost review, we found it works perfectly in Canada. They offer a network of 9,700+ servers and are confident enough to provide a 45-day money-back guarantee too.
Features:
- Security: We were pleased to see that CyberGhost offers 256-bit AES encryption, an automatic kill switch, and an excellent malware/spyware blocker that kept online threats at bay.
- Streaming capability: CyberGhost helped us unblock major streaming platforms from Canada, including BBC iPlayer and international Netflix libraries. With CyberGhost’s high speeds, we could also stream in HD without experiencing buffering.
- User-friendliness: We found CyberGhost’s website and app to be beginner-friendly and easy to navigate.
- Simultaneous connections: You can have seven simultaneous connections on a single CyberGhost account and enjoy the app on virtually all operating systems.
- Servers for torrenting: CyberGhost offers 1,400+ servers in the United States alone, which are all P2P optimized, hence ideal for torrenting.
CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which gives you more than enough time to try all its premium features risk-free.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
4. ExpressVPN: Established VPN for Canada with strong security
What We Like
- AES-256 encryption, obfuscated servers, and split tunneling
- Offers a good password manager
- Unblocks all major streaming sites
- Very fast servers across 90+ countries
What We Don't Like
- More expensive than other VPNs
ExpressVPN is an established VPN provider that’s made quite the name for itself over the years. It is known for its top-notch security and extensive range of features. During our ExpressVPN review, we could browse and stream content online without our data ever being compromised.
Features:
- Security: ExpressVPN has 256-bit AES encryption and TrustedServer technology, ensuring your personal data is not saved on its servers. Additionally, the provider offers obfuscated servers, split tunneling, and even a password manager to optimize your online security even more.
- Streaming capability: We could unblock online streaming platforms and enjoy international films and series on ExpressVPN’s high-speed servers.
- User-friendliness: ExpressVPN has one of the most user-friendly apps we have encountered. It is perfect for beginners and easy to navigate.
- Simultaneous connections: The provider offers five simultaneous connections, which should be enough for the whole family to use.
Like other VPN providers, you can try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days through its money-back guarantee.
- Very easy-to-use VPN
- Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e., Netflix)
- 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
5. Private Internet Access: Canada VPN with the largest server network
What We Like
- Largest server network: 33,000+
- Obfuscated servers, ad blocker, kill switch
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Dedicated IPs available (less likely to get blacklisted by streaming platforms)
- Unblocks all major streaming platforms
What We Don't Like
- HQ located in the United States (part of the 5 Eyes Alliance)
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a transparent, secure, and very affordable VPN that’s perfect for users in Canada who want access to many servers. We were very impressed during our PIA testing with its vast server network of 33,000+ servers, as we could stream any online content we wanted.
Features:
- Security: PIA’s set of security features includes DNS leak protection, obfuscation, a built-in ad blocker (PIA MACE), split tunneling, and an advanced kill switch.
- Streaming capability: Whether looking to watch award-winning films or stay up to date with the latest anime, we were happy to discover that PIA’s global server network opens up a world of streaming for Canadians. It also offers dedicated IPs that are exclusive to only one user.
- User-friendliness: We found PIA’s mobile app for iOS and Android really well-developed! This VPN provider scored top marks for us for usability and customer support.
- Simultaneous connections: You can use your PIA account on as many devices as you want, as the VPN offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
Enjoy a free month of PIA by making use of the 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Strong focus on privacy and security
- Good price
- Fast and stable servers
Get Past Restrictions With a Canada VPN
While Canada is certainly not the most restrictive country regarding internet freedom, the progress on Bill C-11 shows how likely it is that online censorship in Canada might become more strict in the next few months.
By giving this much regulatory power to the CRTC, the Canadian government will inevitably compromise net neutrality. The bill might have been created for the sake of supporting Canadian content, but it will likely do more harm than good.
Luckily, you’ll be able to avoid the negative consequences of this new legislation with a VPN. The best VPN provider in Canada, based on our extensive testing of dozens of services, is NordVPN. By using NordVPN in Canada, you’ll be able to unblock content from around the world and take full advantage of its enhanced security features and competitive prices.
Want to learn more about internet censorship in other parts of the world? Check out our articles below:
- Censorship in Ukraine: A Fight for Media Control
- Censorship in the UAE: How to Get Around It
- Censorship in Pakistan: How to Get Around Online Restrictions
Do you have any questions about internet censorship in Canada or how to get around it? Check out our FAQ below for some quick answers.
Bill C-11 is a new piece of legislation that is currently under review by the Canadian Senate. It gives the CRTC the authority to regulate almost all audio-visual streaming platforms, including Netflix and YouTube. The aim of the bill is to improve the “discoverability” of Canadian content. In essence, the CRTC can regulate which content is worthy of promotion.
No, Google is not censored in Canada. In general, content regulation and website filtering is very limited in Canada.
Yes, using a VPN is legal in Canada. Though legislation is always subject to change, it’s very easy to get your hands on a good VPN in Canada. Most VPNs have extensive server networks in the United States, making Canada the perfect location to use a VPN without issues.
The best VPNs for Canada include the following top five (tried and tested!):
- NordVPN: Overall the best VPN for Canada, with a high level of security, super fast servers, and the power to unblock anything.
- Surfshark: A very affordable VPN that you can use on as many devices as you like!
- CyberGhost: Cheap, beginner-friendly VPN that’s constantly improving its service.
- ExpressVPN: Secure and established VPN provider that offers tight security and a solid server network.
- Private Internet Access: Very affordable VPN with a wide global range.
