OTTAWA – With the federal election just around the corner, the Canadian Conference of the Arts convinced the major federal parties (except for the ruling Conservatives) to offer up their thoughts on the arts, culture, and heritage sector with a series of thought-provoking questions.
Below are a few excerpts from some of their most interesting answers. Click here for the parties’ full responses on the CCA blog.
On foreign ownership in broadcasting and telecommunications:
– Liberal Party: The Liberal party believes that none of the elements of the Canadian broadcasting system should be sold to foreign interests. We are willing to consider some foreign investments in the telecommunication sector, as long as it is clearly established that this will not harm the Canadian broadcasting system.
– NDP: New Democrats are in favour of maintaining the ownership rules governing Canada’s culture industries. We believe these rules are also essential for the telecommunications sector, particularly due to the high degree of vertical integration in the Canadian marketplace.
– Bloc Québécois: We believe that lifting restrictions on foreign ownership in telecommunications and broadcasting is a danger to Canadian and Quebec culture.
– Green Party: Green MPs will sponsor and support legislation that restricts foreign ownership so that Canadians remain in control of their cultural destiny.
On whether Internet and wireless service providers should contribute financially to the development of Canadian content:
– Liberal Party: We will work toward developing similarly innovative solutions to protect creators’ existing and future rights and revenue streams in a digital age. For example, a Liberal government will be open to allocating a portion of the upcoming wireless spectrum auction proceeds to fund artists and creators.
– NDP: Just as BDUs and telecommunications carriers are required to do their part to ensure the continued vitality of Canada’s cultural sector, we believe the providers of wireless services and new so-called “over-the-top” services should also make a contribution to the system from which they will profit. We support studying measures to make this a reality.
– Bloc Québécois: We believe that service providers must pay royalties to a fund to finance the production of content.
– Green Party: Steps must be taken to ensure that creative content producers are properly remunerated for their efforts, and therefore the Green Party is committed to working with all of the interested parties to ensure a fair and equitable solution can be found.
On the CRTC:
– The Liberal party believes there is a need to revisit the role of the Commission.
– New Democrats have pledged to support the circulation of Canadian artists and their work here at home by refocusing the mandate of the CRTC to promote and protect Canadian cultural industries.
– Lesley Hunter
