Collected Data
"We need a new approach to supporting culture in Canada."
The BBC offers a compelling example of how a strong, stable, well-funded public broadcaster can serve the interests of domestic audiences and diverse communities, support the global ambitions of its creative and cultural sectors, and provide a strong foundation for Britain’s creative economy.
Through a combination of a cohesive culture strategy and sustained culture investment over many years, Creative Britain is now a crucial part of the British economy, British culture is stronger than ever and the BBC is a global symbol of quality.
A CREATIVE CANADA: STRENGTHENING CANADIAN CULTURE IN A DIGITAL WORLD
The CBC is important to Canada. Making it completely publicly funded is a step forward. I hope the Canadian Government is wise and supports this.
"Asked for further comment, the CRTC referred to a letter CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais sent to the national president of ACTRA on Aug. 31 that also stressed the international marketplace."
In announcing the decision, the CRTC acknowledged the concern that the change could result in “fewer opportunities for Canadians,” but added that non-Canadian actors and creators “may increase a project’s attractiveness and visibility in international markets.”
It also said some stakeholders say the change will give producers “creative flexibility” in developing Canadian productions with “international market appeal and the potential for international investment.”
“American writers won’t guarantee better content,” Mr. Heaton said. “And to say that Canadian programs [need] help [in] the international market is confusing when we have so many examples of successful Canadian shows already.”
Heritage Minister says she will not reverse Cancon rules for TV industry
"The future of Canadian culture cannot lie in eliminating the Canadians who create it. Unless the goal is to have our highly experienced talent (and our young up-and-comers) respond in the way some are now saying they will, by leaving Canada."
The changes to the commission’s policies on CIPFs are significant and sweeping. Chief among them is the elimination of the requirement of a licensed-broadcaster trigger for CIPF funding, the reduction of the number of Canadian certification points required to access CIPF funding, the eligibility of co-ventures, and the approval to allow script, content development and promotion/discoverability initiatives to qualify for funding.
The elimination of the requirement of a broadcast licence or development agreement from a licensed broadcaster is restricted only by a criteria that producers “must demonstrate that the production will be available on a platform accessible by Canadians” (thus eliminating the possibility that a property commissioned by and aired exclusively on a U.S.-only service would qualify for CIPF funding).
In its decision, the CRTC wrote that eliminating the requirement will give producers more flexibility to distribute their projects on whichever platform they choose by removing distribution exclusivity. In a familiar refrain under Jean-Pierre Blais’ CRTC, the Commission said it will “allow producers to take more risks” since the projects would not have to fit the traditional TV parameters, as well as giving them more bargaining power and creative control.
CRTC overhauls indie production fund framework
Read the full decision here.
Not everyone is happy.
Greg David;
“This is hugely disappointing,” says WGC Executive Director Maureen Parker. “That the CRTC, a public authority charged with regulating Canadian broadcasting, would effectively denigrate Canadian showrunners and screenwriters and suggest our country’s creators cannot deliver international success is shocking. It’s also verifiably untrue.”
The CRTC decision is not, however, an isolated instance of what the WGC views as an entirely misguided outlook. It’s an increasingly pervasive view that suggests Canadian tax dollars should not be put towards productions created by Canadians. This unfortunate notion — that reducing the presence of Canadian talent is the ticket to more international funding — is taking hold.
CANADIAN CULTURE AT RISK: THE ATTACK ON CANADIAN CREATORS
John Doyle;
Reaction was swift from the self-described “creatives” in the Canadian industry. Outrage, anger, despair and more outrage. Using Facebook and Twitter, some are claiming they will walk away from the industry. Others are saying they’re heading for Los Angeles because employment opportunity in the Canadian business is now considerably diminished. Some of this reaction borders on hysteria. Some of it is anchored in a kind of happy-clappy nationalism beloved of children, not thinking adults.
First, however, the decision is truly appalling. It suits a commercial industry that is already heavily protected, arrogant and uncaring about investing in a medium from which it profits vastly. Second, the CRTC decision comes, suspiciously, without the usual public and industry debate. It looks like a major favour being done for outlets who want to dodge responsibility. Third, it arrives when a Liberal government, one that loudly proclaims its support of Canadian culture, is in power.
CRTC’s Canadian content changes are terrible, but no one cares
Having read his writing, Mr Doyle shouldn’t be so quick with those quotes around creatives.
"Today's CRTC decision sends a shiver down the spine of Canada's independent producers, who now face the hard realities of a hyper-consolidated broadcasting sector"
In announcing its approval Wednesday, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission noted that fact, saying the change in ownership "does not result in a change in effective control of either entity."
Meanwhile, it said the transaction positions Corus as a stronger player with enhanced scale that can offer better services and higher-quality programming to Canadians, consistent with the regulator's goals.
However, the Canadian Media Producers Association said it was worried that the deal will see Corus dominate women's, lifestyle and children's programming in Canada, "ultimately reducing the diversity and quality of programming available to Canadian audiences."
CRTC approves Corus purchase of Shaw Media
"Lots of talk about the environment, understandably, but not a lot of talk about the economy right now"
Wall is the lone dissenting voice among the Canadian delegation. He's also the most powerful voice for the Canadian oil industry. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers has representatives in Paris, but it is not a part of the delegation or at the main conference centre.
Wall is hesitant to bring in a carbon tax in his province, worrying about the economic impact it might have. There is a suggestion that introducing new carbon policies in Canada could help the oil industry gain public and political support to build new pipelines, but Wall says there is no guarantee.
"It would be frustrating if you're in the energy industry and think we get it, we have to pay a carbon tax, we need to do more by the environment," said Wall. "Now we can't even move our product, because we can't seem to build national support for a pipeline. So, I think that's a concern."
Brad Wall is dissenting voice in Canada's COP21 delegation
Let’s not forget his comments on refugees.
Mr Wall likes to talk about jobs. Well, guess what Brad, it’s the job of our elected officials to show leadership and help guide people through difficult times. You are not being paid to stand around saying stupid shit. Lead or get out of the way.
"I think our trade negotiators have profoundly failed Canadians and our future innovators."
After poring over the treaty's final text, the businessman who helped build Research In Motion into a $20-billion global player said the deal contains "troubling" rules on intellectual property that threaten to make Canada a "permanent underclass" in the economy of selling ideas.
Jim Balsillie fears TPP could cost Canada billions and become worst-ever policy move
"I am committed to leading an open, honest government that is accountable to Canadians"
Thank you for having faith in me. Thank you for putting your trust in our team.
We will not let you down.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s open letter to Canadians
Actions speak louder than words, Mr Trudeau.
"More than they wanted anyone else to win, they wanted Harper to lose. They'd even vote Liberal if that's what it took."
So Harper could ladle pork like a Liberal. Better, in fact. Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin reduced the national debt by $90 billion and left a budgetary surplus of $14 billion. Harper's six deficits added $150 billion to the national debt.
Not his fault, you say? Perhaps so, although Harper certainly made the red ink deeper by cutting the GST and adding $14 billion a year to the deficit. Add on all the tax cuts for hockey moms and firefighters and parents and, well, Harper even contrived to double the budget for prisons at a time when crime was falling.
The end result was lower taxes and higher debt. The two are not wholly unrelated.
Even so, a rising debt can still be a smaller slice of the economy if the economy grows.
That's the big picture: Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio is on a slow, downward creep, from 30 per cent to 25 per cent, which is better than our G7 partners. It's a meaningful measure of fiscal health. If Harper wants to be judged by the economy, then it could be a lot worse.
Stephen Harper's legacy: Good, bad and a dose of ugly
"Tonight we'll dispense with the formalities. I'd like to toast the future prime minister of Canada: to Justin Pierre Trudeau."
When Justin Trudeau was just four months old, then-US President Richard Nixon predicted the infant would one day follow in his father's footsteps.
At a gala dinner during a state visit to Ottawa in 1972, Mr Nixon addressed his Canadian counterpart: "Tonight we'll dispense with the formalities. I'd like to toast the future prime minister of Canada: to Justin Pierre Trudeau."
According to CBC, the elder Trudeau responded that should his son ever lead the country, "I hope he has the grace and skill of the president."
Who is Justin Trudeau, Canada's next prime minister?
"The Liberals didn't fear that the electorate was too stupid to wrap their minds around complicated topics."
Justin Trudeau's positive campaign style, his clear love for the country's diversity, the strength of Liberal candidates, and the desire to throw out Stephen Harper's Conservatives were all factors behind what happened.
But perhaps more than anything else, the Liberals' adoption of many evidence-based policies may have proven decisive.
Justin Trudeau's emphasis on evidence-based policies paved the way to Liberal victory
"Harper has asked the party to instruct the caucus to appoint an interim leader."
After nearly 10 years as prime minister, Stephen Harper is on his way out as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Stephen Harper will resign as leader of the Conservatives after party loses election
See ya Stevie.
"When it comes to science, technology and innovation, the “anyone-but-Harper” mantra holds especially true. Canada is unquestionably dumber in many ways than it was 10 years ago, and that’s a real embarrassment."
"Every party has their dipshit that they hide away in the back benches. Unfortunately, this party is almost entirely dipshits."
Honestly. If you’re okay with all this stuff and still insist on voting Conservative. Well. Thanks for nothing.
2011-2015 Harper Government Wrap-up
"They shouldn't be targeting these ads to anybody,"
Stephen Harper is defending a Conservative ad campaign targeted at Chinese and Punjabi-speaking voters in Vancouver and Toronto that claims Justin Trudeau supports the sale of marijuana to children, the expansion of safe injection sites and the establishment of neighbourhood brothels.
Conservative ads aimed at Chinese, Punjabi voters claim Trudeau backs brothels, pot sales to kids
This is just pathetic.
"Politicians, including Harper's Conservatives, love to talk about the supreme importance of accountability."
what has provoked Biguzs's anger, and determination for a reckoning, is that someone under her command apparently had the gall to tell a journalist — and thereby the Canadian public — about the PMO overriding the professionals in her department
Government sensitivity over you hearing about 'sensitive' information
"The question is, Does the system work for the benefit of most people? Does it create upward mobility, equal opportunity? Or is it rigged?"
Although we are only beginning to understand the details — mostly because the Trans-Pacific Partnership was negotiated away from the prying eyes of voters — one of the main criticisms of international trade deals like the TPP is that the main beneficiaries are large corporations, not ordinary citizens.
"Negotiators worked overtime on terms to please multinational corporations — under close consultation with those same corporations. But there was no consultation with labour or civil society groups," says a release from the Trade Justice Network, a group that opposes the deal.
Mickey Mouse protection, the TPP and why America remains unequal
It struck me that, then and now, the only way to keep our rights is to keep fighting for them.
Convinced that the free market will solve our problems, we complacently wait, repeatedly voting for the status quo, not realizing the problem is more complex and that re-creating a truly free-market capitalism for the many, not the few, will require more than a Mickey Mouse effort.
"Over time we've seen that this man cannot be trusted. He had no integrity. He's trying to stifle democracy. There's no end to what he's doing."
He used the word racism in reference to the debate over the wearing of the niqab by Muslim women taking part in the oath of citizenship.
Williams said the issue is not worthy of becoming a national issue, but the Conservatives have latched onto it in order to secure votes.
"He doesn't care if he isolates the issues of women or if he isolates the issue of minorities, and even crosses, possibly, that racism line," Williams stated.
"It doesn't matter to him. It's all about getting elected at the end of the day."
Danny Williams says Stephen Harper's tactics are borderline racist
There is nothing borderline about it.
"A Liberal government would invest $380 million in new money into the country's cultural and creative industries"
During a campaign stop in downtown Montreal, Trudeau told supporters and members of the Quebec arts community that culture and creative industries generate jobs and help to strengthen the economy.
Justin Trudeau promises increased funding for the arts, CBC/Radio-Canada
"One thing is clear: public scarcity in times of unprecedented private wealth is a manufactured crisis, designed to extinguish our dreams before they have a chance to be born."
We declare that “austerity” – which has systematically attacked low-carbon sectors like education and healthcare, while starving public transit and forcing reckless energy privatizations – is a fossilized form of thinking that has become a threat to life on earth.
The money we need to pay for this great transformation is available — we just need the right policies to release it. Like an end to fossil fuel subsidies. Financial transaction taxes. Increased resource royalties. Higher income taxes on corporations and wealthy people. A progressive carbon tax. Cuts to military spending. All of these are based on a simple “polluter pays” principle and hold enormous promise.
the leap manifesto
"If the problem continues, by May they will consider fining anyone who fails to follow the law."
The Tim Hortons on Highway 16 has seen an influx of customers lately, particularly in their drive-thru during the morning commute. Fed up with the congestion, drivers have begun committing dangerous traffic violations to get their coffee fix.
Tim Hortons double-double spells traffic trouble in Terrace, B.C.
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