VANCOUVER – With a federal by-election in Vancouver-Quadra just over a week away, candidates should be aware of high voter concern about foreign ownership of the media, say two unions and the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
The three organizations says the results of a Harris-Decima poll show a solid majority of Canadians, and even more British Columbians, oppose increased foreign ownership of media and telecom companies.
ACTRA, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting released the survey results Friday at a Vancouver- Quadra candidates’ debate that they sponsored. The by-election will be held March 17. The seat is currently held by the Liberals.
The poll suggests 67 percent of British Columbians are more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes increased foreign ownership, compared to the national result of 62%.
It also says most B.C. voters (67%) believe broadcasting and communications are too important to national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in this sector.
The issue was raised because the federal government has established a panel to review limits to the share a foreign corporation can own of Canadian media and telecom companies.
”Protecting Canada’s cultural sovereignty is a priority for voters, especially in B.C. where the film and television industry has been hard hit. Most Canadians want action from Ottawa to build a culture and identity that is distinct from the United States. We need more Canada on TV and at the movies,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA National Executive Director.
The results were drawn from a national omnibus survey of 2,052 Canadians, including 250 British Columbians, conducted in November. The national margin of error is 2.2%, 19 times out of 20, while the margin of error for the B.C. results is 6.2%.
