But the panel’s suggestions would alter some of the very institutions the industry depends on. Among some of the report’s 97 recommendations are: compelling streaming services to devote part of their budget to the creation of Canadian content, combining the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada into a new entity, and re-envisioning CBC as an ad-free service.

The authors of the report spent 18 months poring over 2,000 submissions; now the Liberal government has promised to deliver a bill within a year. Speaking at Prime Time on Thursday, Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault suggested an even more accelerated timeline.

«I don’t want to wait until December,» he said. «I will do everything I can do to make sure the bill is tabled within this parliamentary session, between now and the month of June.»

Over coffee at the networking sessions, some producers expressed skepticism on whether government will actually enforce the recommendations on streaming services, but ACTRA national president David Sparrow is encouraged.

The actors’ union president says he’s willing to wait a few years if the government can deliver a bill that would protect the industry for the next 20. But what he’s worried about is whether the minority government can make the recommendations a reality before it’s replaced.

«No one knows when that government will be up for re-election,» said Sparrow, who noted that another government could «take all of this work, stuff it under the bed and say, ‘That’s not for us.'»

For his part, producer Robin Cass appreciates the boldness of the panel’s recommendations. He says the idea of combining the Canadian Media Fund (which broadcasters contribute to and creators draw from to make Canadian programs) and Telefilm Canada is long overdue.

«As an independent producer, I know how many funds there are and how much paperwork is required,» Cass says, adding that he always wondered why there wasn’t a more centralized approach that would save a lot of time and money.

But not everyone is as enthusiastic. Jesse Wente is tired of all the talking.

As the director of Indigenous Screen Office, first announced in 2017, Wente says they’ve been in constant consultations with the government since his office opened.

While the expert panel recommends the CBC increase its efforts to reflect Indigenous cultures and languages, Wente and many others in the Indigenous community are pushing for equal inclusion in the Broadcasting Act for First Nation, Métis and Inuit producers, alongside French and English.

«We don’t need further consultations,» Wente says.

«We need action on what we’ve been saying for 20 years. We need the legislative change that will force this country to actually make the change that is needed.»

CBC president responds

Change is certainly on the menu when is comes to the panel’s view for the public broadcaster. The report recommends CBC abandon all advertising within five years, in order to be more «daring and take risks,» in the words of panel chair Janet Yale.

Speaking at Prime Time, CBC President Catherine Tait took issue with the panel’s comments.

She pointed to the upcoming CBC drama Trickster, a show featuring Indigenous directors, writers and actors, as an example of the broadcaster’s commitment to taking creative risks.

In the interview on-stage with Bell Media president Randy Lennox, the two executives spoke frankly about the challenges of competing with multinational corporations such as Netflix.

«It’s not easy,» Lennox said, about discussing negotiating rights. «As you know they want it all, but so do we.»

Speaking to CBC’s relationship with streaming services, Tait clarified some earlier comments she’d made about Netflix.

«It’s not that we don’t want to be in business with the foreign streamers,» she said, «it’s that we need to protect the Canadian windows for our own exploitation, but also to the benefit of [Canadian producers].»

As the attendees wait to see how the government proceeds, Tait stressed that the industry needs to be united. «If we don’t sing from the same songbook with one voice, we will not be heard.»

She also emphasized that the report is a series of recommendations — not law — and suggested the industry has a role to play as the government determines the way forward.