A Canadian Influencer Contract is a legal agreement between a brand or company (the Client) and a social media content creator (the Influencer) that establishes the terms for promotional marketing services delivered through the Influencer's social media presence. This contract governs the creation, publication, and distribution of sponsored content across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and other digital channels.

Influencer marketing in Canada is regulated by the Competition Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34) and the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards administered by Ad Standards Canada. Under sections 74.01 and 74.011 of the Competition Act, it is a reviewable practice to make false or misleading representations to the public, which includes failing to disclose a material connection between an influencer and a brand. The Competition Bureau of Canada has published guidance documents clarifying that influencers must clearly and prominently disclose paid partnerships, free products, affiliate arrangements, or any other material connection with an advertiser. Failure to comply can result in orders from the Competition Tribunal, including administrative monetary penalties of up to $10,000,000 for a first occurrence.

The intellectual property aspects of influencer contracts are governed by the Copyright Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-42). Under Canadian copyright law, the author of a work is the first owner of copyright. This means the influencer initially owns the copyright in all content they create, including photos, videos, written posts, and audio recordings. Unlike the broader American 'work made for hire' doctrine, Canadian law does not automatically vest copyright in the hiring party for works created by independent contractors. A written assignment clause is therefore essential if the brand wants to own the content. Moral rights, which include the right to the integrity of the work and the right to be associated with the work, remain with the author and can only be waived, not assigned, under section 14.1 of the Copyright Act.

The CRA guide RC4110 determines whether an influencer is an employee or independent contractor based on control, tools, profit opportunity, and integration factors. Most influencers who manage their own social media accounts, create their own content, work with multiple brands, and control their creative process are properly classified as independent contractors.

A Canadian Influencer Contract is essential when a brand, marketing agency, or company engages a social media creator to promote products, services, or brand awareness through sponsored content. This agreement is needed regardless of the size of the campaign, from micro-influencers with a few thousand followers to major content creators with millions of subscribers.

The contract is particularly important to ensure compliance with the Competition Act's disclosure requirements. Without a formal agreement specifying the influencer's obligation to disclose the commercial relationship, both the brand and the influencer risk enforcement action by the Competition Bureau. The contract should require the influencer to use clear disclosures such as #ad, #sponsored, or #partner in all sponsored posts, and to comply with each platform's specific branded content tools and policies.

Brands that want to own the intellectual property rights in the content created by the influencer must have a written contract with an express copyright assignment clause. Without this clause, the influencer retains ownership of all photos, videos, and other content, and the brand may only have an implied licence to use the content for the specific purpose contemplated by the arrangement. This can create significant problems if the brand wants to repurpose the content for advertising campaigns, website use, or other channels beyond the influencer's original posts.

The contract is also needed to define exclusivity arrangements. Many brands require influencers to avoid promoting competing products during the campaign period. Without a written exclusivity clause, the influencer has no obligation to refrain from working with competitors, which could undermine the brand's marketing investment.

For tax purposes, both the brand and the influencer need the contract to document the independent contractor relationship. The brand is not required to withhold income tax, CPP, or EI from payments to an independent contractor, but must be able to demonstrate that the relationship genuinely meets the CRA's independent contractor criteria. The contract supports this classification by defining the scope of services while preserving the influencer's creative control.

Without a formal written contract, disputes may arise over content ownership, usage rights, posting schedules, approval processes, payment terms, disclosure obligations, and exclusivity restrictions. A comprehensive influencer contract protects both parties and provides a clear framework for the marketing collaboration.

A legally effective Canadian Influencer Contract must include the full legal names and addresses of both parties, including the province or territory. The contract should identify the Client's entity type and confirm that the Influencer is engaged as an independent contractor.

The services section should clearly describe the promotional content the Influencer will create, including the format (photos, videos, stories, reels, blog posts), the platforms to be used, the number of posts required, posting deadlines, and any specific messaging or hashtags. The contract should address the Influencer's obligation to comply with the Competition Act and Ad Standards Canada requirements for advertising disclosure, and to include appropriate disclosures in all sponsored content.

The content approval section should specify whether the Client has the right to review and approve content before publication, the timeline for review, and the process for requesting revisions. This helps ensure the content meets the brand's standards while respecting the Influencer's creative voice.

The compensation section should state the payment amount in Canadian dollars (CAD), the payment structure (lump sum, per post, hourly, or milestone-based), the payment method, and the timing of payments. If a retainer is included, the contract should specify the amount and whether it is refundable or non-refundable. The contract should address the Influencer's obligation to charge GST/HST if their annual taxable revenues exceed the $30,000 threshold under the Excise Tax Act.

The intellectual property clause should clearly state who will own the copyright in the content created under the contract, and include a written assignment of copyright and waiver of moral rights if ownership is being transferred to the Client. The clause should also address the scope of usage rights, including whether the Client can modify, adapt, or sublicence the content.

Exclusivity provisions should define the specific industry or competitors that the Influencer may not promote during the term and, if applicable, for a specified period after termination. Canadian courts will only enforce such restrictions if they are reasonable in scope and duration.

The independent contractor status clause should reference the CRA's RC4110 guidelines and confirm that the Influencer controls their creative process, uses their own equipment, and is responsible for their own taxes and statutory contributions.

The governing law clause should reference the laws of the applicable province and the federal laws of Canada, including the Competition Act, the Copyright Act, and PIPEDA.