Press Release

CCA applauds CRTC’s decision to support Canada’s cultural sector

Ottawa, ON (October 30, 2008) - The CRTC’s decision to support local Canadian programming clearly meets the requirements of Canada’s broadcasting legislation and Canadians’ desire, for more and better-funded Canadian programming, says Canada’s oldest and largest arts advocacy and cultural policy development organization, the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA).

“By strengthening cable and satellite companies’ financial commitments to Canadian content and enabling broadcasters in all but five locations to improve the local service they provide to Canadian audiences, the CRTC has acted to ensure that most Canadians will be able to hear and watch more high-quality programming made about Canadians, by Canadians and for Canadians,” said CCA’s National Director, Alain Pineau.  “We are delighted that after so many years of deregulatory policies whose perverse result was to encourage increased spending on foreign imports at the detriment of programs made in Canada, the Commission is now acting to support and strengthen Canada’s cultural sector.”

Pineau also welcomed the CRTC’s clear desire for enforceable and enforced programming objectives.  “Setting out measurable local programming targets in the CRTC spring 2009 TV licence renewal hearings is the most effective and efficient way to ensure that Parliament’s objectives for our broadcasting system are being met,” said Pineau. “CCA welcomes the Commission’s decision to act in light of the benefits its policy will bring to the economy through increased employment and opportunities for investment.”  

CCA’s written and oral presentation to the CRTC focused on the need for effective and efficient regulation in the public interest, and emphasized the importance of the cultural sector to the economy as a whole.  According to a Conference Board of Canada report published in August 2008, every dollar of real value-added GDP produced by Canada’s culture industries, generates roughly $1.84 to Canada’s overall real GDP.

CCA’s mandate is to be the national forum for the arts and cultural community in Canada; to provide research, analysis and consultations on public policies affecting the arts and the Canadian cultural institutions and industries; to foster informed public debates on policy issues; and to seek to advance the cultural rights of Canadians.

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