TORONTO — Some of Canada’s best-known performers and creators are speaking up in support of ACTRA’s (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) campaign urging the federal government to pass Bill C-10, which aims to modernize the Broadcasting Act.
In a press release issued Monday, ACTRA national president David Sparrow said: “The future of Canada’s screen-based industry is at a pivotal moment… Canadian performers and creators are calling on our federal government to act now to modernize Canada’s outdated broadcasting system.”
“Canada’s Broadcasting Act is 10 years behind almost every other country in the world,” adds Sugith Varughese, original Fraggle Rock scriptwriter who now appears on Transplant, in the press release. “If we are going to be a sovereign nation with our own culture, we must not lose this opportunity. The entire world has changed twice since the Act was last revised in 1991. If our government wastes more time getting it done, I’ll probably be retired.”
“Canada’s creators have been calling for a modernized broadcasting system for the better part of a decade,” says Jackson Davies, who starred in the iconic Canadian television series The Beachcombers. “From the 1970s through to the ’90s, shows like The Beachcombers were building a strong Canadian industry and attracting audiences worldwide. Clearly, the Broadcasting Act desperately needs to be updated so we can continue to create new Canadian success stories.”
“My impetus as an artist has always been the creation of original Canadian work, from a culturally diverse perspective. A nation that doesn’t tell its own stories doesn’t know who it is,” says Kim’s Convenience star Jean Yoon. “In terms of Bill C-10, Canadian creators — writers, performers, directors, musicians and producers — play critical roles in strengthening Canada’s identity in the digital age.”
“Our Indigenous stories help viewers understand other perspectives and experiences,” says Lorne Cardinal, director and star of Corner Gas as well as the Corner Gas Animated series. “As creators in Canada, it’s important we all share stories of our history both light and dark, with each other and with viewers around the world. We must have the appropriate tools to continue telling our stories for future generations.”
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