Banff 2016: How the Heritage Minister missed the mark with her Banff Fest opener

By Bill Roberts

BANFF – It is difficult to resist the evident charm and good intentions of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.However, here at the 2016 Banff World Media Festival, some of the old saws we've been hearing in her patterned speeches these last many months are getting old. Here was our Minister, at the prestigious kick-off Opening Keynote of our annual Banff mind-meld, simply churning out bromides.Yes, she is threatening to change everything about the system – but the narrative has become more cautious, perhaps even bewildered, ever since.Yes, again, her 10,000 replies to the initial consultation (a judicious...