Bulletin
Bill C-10 – Could the Liberal Senator’s Amendments trigger an election?
CCA Bulletin 21/08 June 23, 2008 Just the Facts For months now, the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce has been hearing witnesses preoccupied with section 120, (3) of Bill C-10 . While other sections of this mammoth omnibus Act have also raised concerned from various quarters, it is this short section of the 568 page document that has caused the most turmoil, as it pertains to give to the Minister of Heritage the authority to refuse to issue tax...
read moreBill C-61 — The Devil is in the Details: Revisions to the Copyright Act Finally Unveiled
CCA Bulletin 20/08 June 20 , 2008 Background On June 12, 2008, the Minister of Industry, the Hon Jim Prentice and the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Hon. Josée Verner, tabled proposed revisions to the Canadian Copyright Act. Bill C-61 is the first major revision to the Copyright Act since the ‘90s. The motivation for reform comes from two sources, Canada signed onto a World Intellectual Property Organization internet treaties and has not fully implemented the...
read moreThe Federal Action Plan on Grants and Contributions Unveiled
CCA Bulletin 18/08 June 6 , 2008 Just the Facts On May 27, 2008, the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, the Hon. Vic Toews, outlined at the Voluntary Sector Summit in Toronto the Action Plan of the federal government to improve the management of grants and contributions. The action plan is the government’s response to the Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Grants and Contributions delivered to the government on February 14, 2007. The Report reached three...
read moreCulture and Trade
CCA Bulletin 17/08 June 4 , 2008 On May 29, 2008, I attended my first Annual General Meeting of the Trade Team Canada –Cultural Goods and Services. It was a most interesting meeting, attended by senior officials from the Departments of Canadian Heritage and Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and many organizations from the arts and culture sector. Some interesting data were provided on Canada’s cultural trade. In 2007, Statistics Canada released a study on the economic...
read more“Spring Cleaning” Parliamentary Update
CCA Bulletin 16/08 May 22, 2008 The CCA provides periodic information on matters related to the federal government and Parliament. This update is intended to provide a quick overview of some recent developments. The links contained in each text will provide a more detailed understanding for those who are interested. This format will be repeated from time to time. Your comments are always welcome! Copyright Legislation Soon? Ottawa is awash in rumours that the Minister...
read moreThe Plans and Priorities of the Department of Canadian Heritage for 2008–2009
CCA Bulletin 15/08 May 21, 2008 Analysis The Plans and Priorities document runs to some 120 pages. It reflects the intentions of the Department to move forward on key areas of business and presents a very comprehensive examination of the priorities, program architecture and management structures (see below, Tell me more). Generally speaking, the Department continues to embrace its key missions in support of the arts, culturally diversity, linguistic...
read moreTrade Talks — From Agriculture to Culture, Let’s Make a Deal?
CCA Bulletin 14/08 May 8 , 2008 Just the Facts In a surprising development, it would appear that international trade agreement talks through the World Trade Organization (WTO) have found a second wind. The talks, now in their sixth year, had been written off by many who felt that there was little prospect of reaching a deal on such contentious issues as agricultural subsidies and tariffs on manufactured goods. Why should the arts and culture sector care? One of the...
read moreBill C-10: The CCA warns the Senate Banking Committee about the serious dangers to freedom of expression
CCA Bulletin 12/08 April 10, 2008 Just the Facts The CCA questions the need for the proposed amendment to the Income Tax Act included in Bill C-10 concerning tax credits supporting the production of television programs and movies and warns the Committee members of the real dangers for freedom of expression if the amendment is adopted as it stands. The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) appeared yesterday in front of the Senate Committee on Banking Trade, and...
read moreFrom Economy to Ecology – A Policy Framework for Creative Labour
CCA Bulletin 10/08 March 14, 2008 Just the Facts The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) has released the report “From Economy to Ecology: A Policy Framework for Creative Labour”. The document is a comprehensive examination of the creative economy concept and more particularly of how the current labour policy framework should adapt to the realities of creative professionals. The report reflects a broad range of approaches to the creative economy in a...
read moreIs the C-10 Controversy Necessary?
CCA Bulletin 09/08 March 11, 2008 Just the Facts Over the past several days, the controversy over the federal government’s bill C-10 continued to make headlines and editorial pages all over the country. The legislation in question is entitled, “An Act to amend the Income Tax Act including amendments in relation foreign investment entities and on-resident trusts, and to provide for the bijural expression of the provisions of the Act.” (the Act). This Act is...
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