OTTAWA – While most witnesses have insisted the Broadcasting Act is woefully out of date and the sky is falling on the industry, the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications reviewing that piece of legislation as well as the Telecommunications Act heard last week the Broadcasting Act actually works just fine, and the broadcasting system is relatively healthy.
On Wednesday, October 17, Marc Raboy, Beaverbrook professor emeritus in ethics, media and communications at McGill University and Gregory Taylor, assistant professor at the department of communication, media and film, University of Calgary, told a far different story than the appointed politicians…
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OTTAWA – Despite having more than 100 film and television credits to his name, in addition to stage appearances across North America, ACTRA president David Sparrow knows the struggles of an artist’s life all too well.
“That comparatively successful career does not necessarily make me a household name, or financially stable. This is a tough business,” Sparrow said Tuesday morning to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage which gathered again in Ottawa to further discuss remuneration models for Canadian artists in the Canadian Copyright Act. Among those presenting were representatives from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists…
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OTTAWA – As part of Canada’s Copyright Act review, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage announced earlier this year it would study remuneration models for artists and creative industries. Even Bryan Adams made an appearance last month.
On Thursday, the committee heard from Google Canada’s Jason Kee, who serves as the company’s Counsel on Public Policy and Government Relations. As the company has stated many times prior all around the world, its stance on remuneration is based on a partnership model. Its YouTube division has, of course, created a large number of content-creating…
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OTTAWA – Last evening, the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications heard how staff at Canadian Heritage as well as Innovation, Science and Economic Development might change the Telecommunications, Broadcasting and the Radiocommunication Act.
As we’ve reported, the Senate is thinking about how the legislation can be modernized to account for the evolution of the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors in the last decades. As you may have heard, the federal government has appointed an expert panel to do the same thing.
Some criticisms were voiced by Senators on the composition of that panel. For example, Committee…
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WHEN NOW-FORMER Heritage Minister Melanie Joly announced the launch of public consultations with consumers and creators to bring Canada’s cultural properties (everything from the Broadcasting Act to the CRTC) into the digital age, there was great excitement.
That was in April, 2016, nearly two and a half years ago.
Her extensive consultations led to the publication of the Creative Canada Policy Framework in September, 2017, which included a request to the CRTC to examine future programming distribution models and report back to her by June 1, 2018. The Commission used a variety of consultation tools in preparing…
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OTTAWA – Canadian Heritage staffer Nathalie Théberge has been named vice-chair and CEO of the Copyright Board for a five-year term beginning October 1.
Théberge is currently director general of creative marketplace and innovation at Canadian Heritage, and has also held the roles of director general, copyright and international trade; director of international negotiations; and director of copyright policy, planning and research in that department.
In her new role, in which she replaces Claude Majeau whose term expired August 3, Théberge will lead the Board’s work as well as supervise and direct its staff, reads Monday’s announcement. In addition, Adriane Porcin, currently…
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OTTAWA – The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, has his work cut out for him with the continuation of former Minister Mélanie Joly’s work on the renewal of the Broadcasting, Telecom, Radiocommunication and Copyright Acts, in collaboration with ISED Minister Bains.
We note that those Legislative reviews were absent from Joly’s original mandate letter issued on November 12th, 2015. Also included in this new mandate letter:
“Work with the Minister of Finance to implement Budget 2018 commitments to support local journalism and developing business models that better facilitate private giving and philanthropic support for trusted, professional non-profit journalism and local…
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EDINBURGH, UK – The Canadian arts and television industries were part of a Canadian presence this week at the Edinburgh Television Festival in an effort to deepen their connections in the U.K. market.
Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, led the Canadian delegation as part of the Feds’ nascent Creative Export Strategy to expand Canada's presence in important global markets, create business opportunities and grow exports.
Almost 30 Canadian companies and organizations attended various activities in Edinburgh. Minister Casey also took part in the Commonwealth Culture Ministers' meeting on international cooperation in protecting and preserving cultural heritage, as well…
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OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT promised a review of the Broadcasting and Telecommunication Acts in its 2017 budget and last week the CRTC took the first step down this path when it issued: Harnessing Change: The Future of Programming Distribution in Canada.
While it floated a number of interesting, innovative and controversial ideas, we’re all anxious to hear what Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly will have to say about it this weekend when she addresses the Banff International Media Fest. There, we hear she is likely to announce the appointment of a worthy and carefully chosen panel of experts to undertake a year-long project…
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Creative community applauds move that acknowledges "the full potential of Canada’s creative sector"
MONTREAL – The federal government will spend $125 million over five years to help boost the country’s creative exports with a range of initiatives, including a new funding program called Creative Export Canada designed to offer creators a leg up in the global market.
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly unveiled the country's first Creative Export Strategy Tuesday in Montreal, an initiative that promises to strengthen Canada's presence in international markets plus equip Canadian exporters with the tools they need to successfully export their projects.
"Our creative industries have a wealth…
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