Liberal leadership candidates speak out on Canadian culture and broadcasting The Liberal Party of Canada will elect a Eight of the eleven candidates respond- All were asked to keep their responses new leader in December. FRIENDS of ed and we are pleased to provide their to 150 words per question. Where candi- Canadian Broadcasting asked each of responses to you. Further information dates significantly exceeded this limit, the eleven candidates seeking the job about the candidates or the views they we have edited their responses. for their views on four key Canadian express here may be obtained by con- The unedited text is available at broadcasting and cultural issues. tacting them at the co-ordinates listed www.friends.ca/liberalleadershipcandidates. on the reverse side. Carolyn Bennett Campaign Maurizio Bevilacqua Campaign Scott Brison Campaign Martha Hall Findlay Campaign 330 Bay Street, Suite 812 381 Kent Street, Suite 206 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 512 29 Gervais Drive Toronto, Ontario M5H 2S8 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2A8 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7 Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y9 Toll Free: 1-888-628-7404 Phone: (613) 693-0919 Phone: (416) 444-6532 Phone: (613) 230-9350 Fax: (416) 444-3793 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.carolynbennett.ca www.maurizio.ca. www.scottbrison.ca www.marthahallfindlay.ca Michael Ignatieff Campaign Gerard Kennedy Campaign Bob Rae Campaign Office Joe Volpe Campaign 14A Isabella Street 65 St. Clair Avenue E., 2nd Floor 468 Queen Street East, Suite 105 520 Bronson Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1N1 Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2Y3 Toronto, Ontario M5A 1T7 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7Y9 Phone: (647) 724-8515 ext. 220 Toll Free 1-800-622-9399 Toll Free: 1-888-364-8085 Phone: (613) 232-1002 Fax: (647) 435-6744 Phone: (416) 849-3432 Phone: (416) 364-8085 Fax: 1-866-236-1491 Fax: (416) 364-7441 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.michaelignatieff.ca www.gerardkennedy.ca www.bobrae.ca www.joevolpe.ca Liberal leadership candidates speak out on Canadian culture and broadcasting FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting QUESTION ONE: Protecting Canada’s cultural sovereignty Foreign companies are already permitted to own up to 47% of Canadian broadcasters and some of our broadcasters want to sell out completely to American interests. Do you believe it is important to maintain Canadian majority ownership of our media and communications sectors? Carolyn Bennett Maurizio Bevilacqua Scott Brison Martha Hall Findlay Yes, I do agree that this is vital. I believe that Canada’s cultural identi- Canadian ownership and control can Majority Canadian ownership of ty must be protected. Canadian pro- be a bit of a misnomer – in theory it is Canadian broadcasters has been a sig- gramming is essential to preserving important for Canadians to control our nificant and positive factor in the Canadian culture and will not be sold cultural industries but what really mat- development and strengthening of a to foreign interests. The biggest poten- ters is Canadian content.... I fully sup- strong, domestic Canadian industry. tial problem of selling Canadian pro- port Canadian content requirements, And it is helpful, at least in the current grams to foreign interests is that the no matter whether entities are environment, to maintain these con- Canadian content may not be protect- Canadian or foreign-owned. Without trol limits. ed. Rules currently exist to protect Canadian content requirements, there What is equally important, howev- Canadian ownership as well as rules is no guarantee that even a Canadian- er, is the leadership role that the fed- that protect a certain level of owned entity would air Canadian pro- eral government is willing to take in Canadian content. These rules must gramming. I do agree however that financially encouraging the develop- be enforced and I have no intentions domestically-controlled entities are ment of a made in Canada production to modify foreign ownership limits. more likely to invest in developing capacity and for Canadians to read, lis- Canada’s cultural sovereignty is best new Canadian talent. This was one of ten or watch their Canadian stories. protected with rules that are strictly the reasons why I supported the We are more likely to encourage a followed that ensure a certain portion appeal to Cabinet on satellite radio to strong domestic industry, not through of media in Canada is Canadian con- ask the CRTC to reconsider their deci- command and control, but through tent. sion.... the innovative use of the tax system I believe that Canada presently has and other public policy tools to an appropriate balance in the area of encourage Canadians to produce, broadcaster ownership/ control. Canadians to distribute and However, with new technologies, we Canadians to consume Canadian pro- cannot develop Canadian cultural poli- ductions. cy in a vacuum nor ignore these emerging trends.... cultural policy must always remain on the “front burner” in the House of Commons. Michael Ignatieff Gerard Kennedy Bob Rae Joe Volpe Yes. As a general statement on my views Canada must continue to maintain Yes foreign ownership limits for broad- on broadcast policy in Canada, I think majority Canadian ownership of our casting and telecommunications should that the House of Commons Standing own media and communications sec- be maintained at current levels. Committee on Canadian Heritage (the tor. Few countries face comparable “Committee”) report “Our Cultural challenges in maintaining national Sovereignty” (the “Report”) was an ownership and culturally relevant con- outstanding bipartisan document and tent, due to the tremendous power of that a government I lead will be guid- the giant media conglomerates of the ed by many of the recommendations United States. I have always been a in the Report. firm supporter of legislation to protect As one witness told the Committee the Canadian media industry, and will in 2003, ownership in broadcasting: continue to ensure legislative protec- “... has an importance well beyond tion for Canadian-owned media. In most commodities. It’s not a commod- the debate on the Free Trade ity, it’s a cultural influence, and that’s Agreement, I stressed this aspect of why we are here to talk about it and our national interest. It is the only way not about cups and saucers and pens to promote Canadian programming in and pencils. Ownership has a great the face of pressures from our neigh- deal of influence, I believe, over what bour. is produced and why.” ... I agree with the Committee’s recommendation to maintain the cur- rent restrictions on foreign ownership. Liberal leadership candidates speak out on Canadian culture and broadcasting FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting QUESTION TWO: More Canadian drama programs on television Since the CRTC relaxed Canadian programming regulations in 1999, private broadcasters have fed Canadian audiences a steady diet of cheap American programs while the quality and quantity of Canadian drama have declined. Do you think it is important to increase the quantity and quality of Canadian drama television programs on TV? How would you ensure Canada’s broadcasters air more and better Canadian drama programs? Carolyn Bennett Maurizio Bevilacqua Scott Brison Martha Hall Findlay I believe we should review the CRTC Canadian broadcasters produce a lot of ...In terms of new Canadian drama, Borders are breaking down in broad- regulations in light of the need to high quality programming be it in there is no question that we face a sig- casting. We can no longer assume that maintain Canadian drama production sports, comedy, news or drama. In the nificant challenge... Drama is relatively Canadians and the Canadian broad- and broadcasting. I believe the position francophone market, Canadian-made expensive to produce – producing and casting industry can shelter behind a of CBC is particularly important for dramatic productions have developed marketing these shows typically costs government-regulated communications Canadian drama. Being married to popular followings and are some of the many fold more than, say, news or industry. Canadian filmmaker Peter O’Brian has top rated programs. In the English mar- sports programming. Furthermore, the We do need a made-in-Canada meant that I have cringed every time I kets, Canadian drama television does United States is a global powerhouse in approach to production support from have seen ‘An American President’ or not do as well. The issue is complex producing drama programs.... These US the federal government. One that pro- ‘Apollo 13’ on CBC television. CBC due to our physical closeness to the programs are generally quite popular vides quality content to Canadian must have the budget to produce excel- world’s largest English television mar- with Canadians, as with viewers of broadcasters and one that can help lence in original Canadian drama, as ket, the United States. Americans can other countries. For these reasons, it is bridge from a regulatory-driven agenda well as in news and public affairs, and sell programs at prices that are far important for Canadians to determine to a consumer-driven outcome. We coverage of national events. The CBC lower than what it would cost to pro- whether forcing new Canadian drama need to have a strategy that financially should also have a role in cross- duce the show in Canada. We should into this picture should be our top cul- rebuilds the CBC’s production capacity promoting Canadian film, music and strive to create made-in-Canada televi- tural priority, or whether other areas that has been ravaged by over a decade culture. sion, but the greater focus should be such as documentaries, children’s pro- of budget cuts. Not because the CBC made-for-Canada television. The govern- gramming, satellite radio and news should be “protected”, but because it ment must work with the CRTC, which is production may merit greater priority.