By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – In leaving behind environmental activism to enter federal politics, new Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault will now be responsible for combating online hate speech; helping to develop a new set of online rights; expanding the CBC’s news coverage; and ensuring that web giants contribute to making, and carry Canadian content.
In the ministerial mandate letter he received from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which was released on Dec. 13 Guilbeault is tasked with creating “new regulations for social media platforms, starting with a requirement that all platforms remove illegal content, including hate speech, within 24 hours or…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Amid new portfolio names and no major change to Navdeep Bains’ duties, one big surprise in the unveiling of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new post-election cabinet on Wednesday was the appointment of well-known Quebec environmentalist, anti-pipeline activist and month-old Member of Parliament Steven Guilbeault (right), as – the new minister of Canadian Heritage.
However, OUTtv CEO Brad Danks told Cartt.ca he is “cautiously optimistic” that Guilbeault’s background as a human-rights activist and reputation of being forward-thinking will help the government undertake a “complete overhaul of the broadcasting system” following the release of recommendations early next year by…
Continue Reading
Will a new ISED minister mean a 3500 MHz auction delay?
OTTAWA – Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Heritage Canada could new ministers when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveils his new cabinet on November 20.
The rumour mill has Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna replacing Navdeep Bains, whose deft handling of complicated telecom and technology files earned him respect from within those industries.
“I think she can do it. She managed to skate through environment without getting her head lopped off, so she must know what she’s doing,” said John Lawford, executive director and general counsel of the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – In its statutory review of the Copyright Act, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) parted ways with its Canadian Heritage counterpart on issues regarding ownership of cinematographic works, the definition of “sound recording” in the legislation, and the radio-royalty exemption.
However, differences between both committees were also based on process, according to a news release INDU issued on Tuesday.
It said that since the committee presented its report to the House of Commons on June 3, “some stakeholders who participated in INDU’s proceedings have expressed regret that the committee…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The federal government should update the rules regarding first ownership of cinematographic works; maintain the definition of “sound recording” in the Copyright Act; and amend the legislation to ensure that the radio-royalty exemption only applies to “small, independent broadcasters,” according to a House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology report on the statutory review of the Copyright Act presented to Parliament on Monday.
Last month’s report by the House Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on remuneration models for Canadian artists and creative industries took a different approach to the three issues,…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canada’s creative community applauded the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for hitting the right notes in calling for better pay for Canadian artists in its Shifting Paradigms report presented to Parliament on May 15.
Now, however, groups representing artists want the federal government to produce a symphony of legislative change from the committee’s 22 recommendations, which include a call to both support creators and creative industries adapt to new digital markets, and review safe-harbour exceptions and laws to ensure that Internet service providers (ISPs) are “accountable for their role in the distribution of content.”
“As technology…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The federal government should revive the department of communications as part of its review of broadcasting, telecommunications and radiocommunication legislation, a University of Calgary expert on the relationship between communications systems and governments told a conference on Canada’s electronic communications law at the University of Ottawa last week.
Rather than having the minister for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada responsible for the Telecommunications Act and Radiocommunication Act, and the Canadian Heritage minister responsible for the Broadcasting Act, “we need a ministry whose sole purpose is the oversight of the Canadian communication system,” said Gregory Taylor, an assistant…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Minister Pablo Rodriguez’s first appearance at the annual Canadian Media Producers Association Prime Time national conference in the capital last Thursday was short – lasting 17 minutes – and sweet, based on the effusive reception that greeted the Argentinian-born, guitar-playing Liberal cabinet minister.
“What I’ve noticed in the past few months since your appointment is what I’ve been calling Rodriguez-mania,” the CMPA’s affable president and CEO, Reynolds Mastin, said of his special guest prior to beginning a friendly question-and-answer session with Rodriguez. “You just effortlessly relate to people, and people open up to you…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Pablo Rodriguez has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at Prime Time in Ottawa (PTiO) later this month.
Scheduled for January 30 – February 1, 2019 at the Westin Ottawa, PTiO is a national conference for some 600 of Canada’s most prominent business leaders from the feature film, television, interactive media, broadcasting and telecommunications industries.
Including a series of keynote speakers, plenary panels, breakout sessions and roundtables, the 2019 conference will grapple with the important issues currently facing the screen-based content industry.
www.primetimeinottawa.ca
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Without the regulatory framework that has existed for the last number decades, the Canadian feature film industry would not be what it is today, according to Emily Harris, President of Canadian Association of Film Distributors and Exporters (CAFDE).
Harris was speaking before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa on Thursday, and noted that it is CAFDE’s members that tirelessly work to bring the work of actors to the forefront of audiences. The committee is studying remuneration models for artists and creative industries.
While Canadian creatives are celebrated the world over, Harris noted that of the almost $1…
Continue Reading