Kate Taylor for The Globe and Mail;

As Canada finds it increasingly difficult to maintain the walled-garden of Canadian content, the commercial business model – whereby U.S. shows, often simulcast, underwrite a smattering of Canadian drama and comedy – is at risk. The moment may come when the commercial networks will have to be cut loose from both their Canadian-content obligations and market protections: Leave them to figure out how to make money as a local broadcaster selling U.S. content to Canadians when Netflix knows no national boundaries.

In that environment, a distinctively Canadian and commercial-free alternative would stand out like a beacon. Critics of CBC sometimes argue that globalized media make the Canadian public broadcaster obsolete. On the contrary, the plethora of foreign choices makes it more relevant than ever.

Ad-free CBC could serve as a rallying point for Canadian creativity