Article says that the cultural sector should not have to rally the troops, demonstrate its importance and show undying gratitude just to maintain its funding.
The Senate Transport and Communications Committee will release a report on how legislation could improve the quality of Canadian media and help to counter the worrysome trend towards media concentration.
Industry Canada officials expected to advise Industry Minister early in 2005 on whether to make major changes to the Telecommunications Act.
Culture section of the pre-budget report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, in which the Standing Committee recommended that the federal government increase funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Radio-Canada.
FRIENDS' response to a proposal from Industry Canada and Heritage Canada to "clarify" the Canadian government's satellite-use policy for the delivery of broadcasting services.
Columnist gives advance input to Senate Committee hearings on the Canadian news media.
Progressive Conservative leader John Tory and NDP culture critic Rosario Marchese call upon Dalton McGuinty's Liberals to raise the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.
Ontario's film community lobbies for tax breaks on foreign productions; says industry is ailing and no infrastructure can be built when there is no revenue.
Minister of Canadian Heritage addresses convention of Canadian private broadcasters, states that government will "highlight its priorities and its immediate actions concerning broadcasting" by the end of April 2005.
Article says that the greatest challenge Canada will face in the coming decades is avoiding assimilation by the U.S.
Minister of Canadian Heritage hints that the federal government's upcoming financial review may reallocate funds from other sectors to television and film.
Transcript of presentations to Finance Committee pre-budget consultations by FRIENDS and others.
Liza Frulla confirms Telefilm, the CBC and the NFB were asked to assess the feasibility of a 5% cut to their budgets.
Columnist argues Canada's cultural sovereignty is not under threat.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union expresses concern that the CRTC approval of Fox News may open the door to foreign ownership of broadcasting in Canada, asks Prime Minister Martin to clarify his government's position.
CBC President Robert Rabinovitch seeks permanent funding to restore CBC local and regional programming capacity on English television.
Minister of Heritage Liza Frulla says Canada needs more public television, will push to restore CBC news services in the regions.
Liza Frulla annouces that the arts industry will have to suffer five percent cuts accross the board; CBC will incur a $46-million cut.
Government supplementary estimates point to a permanent 10 million dollar budget cut for the CBC.
MP reintroduces Lincoln Committee report "Our Cultural Sovereignty" in House of Commons, putting the Committee's landmark recommendations back on the public agenda.
Headhunting firm has produced a three-person candidate list for the top job at Telefilm.
Editorial criticizes Paul Martin Liberals for failing to end patronage in appointments to Crown corporations, advocates that Crown boards should make the selections.
The Coalition Against Satellite Signal Theft says that Quebec court ruling on satellite signals threatens the Canadian broadcasting system.
Quebec court ruling on satellite television and satellite pay radio applications raise fundamental questions about Canadian broadcasting regulation.
Minister of Canadian Heritage says Quebec court ruling that restrictions on viewer access to foreign satellite signals are unconstitutional is a concern for Canada's cultural industry.
Satellite radio will be the next big thing in Canada - the question is whether the CRTC wants to "get in front of the wave or get knocked over by it", says columnist.
Prime Minister Paul Martin's leadership to date mirrors that of other interim leaders, columnist says.
Conservative party leader Stephen Harper criticized for suggestion that federal powers be devolved to linguistic groups, CRTC and CBC be split into separate anglophone and francophone institutions.
The debate surrounding satellite radio in Canada will come to a head when the CRTC rules on how 'Canadianized' the various bids are.
There is speculation that two former Martin ministers who met with the CRTC chair prior to the June 2004 federal election were trying to influence the CRTC.
Rules for interaction between government ministers and quasi-judicial bodies such as the CRTC are clear; current Minister of Canadian Heritage denies that she or any of her predecessors violated them.
FRIENDS calls on CBC President to air Canadian hockey, not Hollywood blockbusters, on Hockey Night in Canada during NHL dispute.
Italian minister to lobby Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister on behalf of Italian broadcaster RAI International, despite the fact the power to decide on the issue lies with the CRTC.
Conservatives argue former Minister of Heritage Helene Scherrer used ministerial funds to promote Liberal Party at Banff Television Festival while Liberals maintain she was acting in her role as Minister.
Article says a new Friends of Canadian Broadcasting report has provided evidence of patronage in CBC board appointments, but this is just one of many problems with the federal government's appointments process.
Canadian networks are lobbying the government to relax advertising rules to allow them to tap into the profitable prescription drug ad market.
Minister of Heritage Liza Frulla announces the appointment of Karen Kain as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts.
CanWest CEO and other broadcast executives call for changes that would allow broadcasters to air prescription drug ads and provide more advertising minutes per hour.
Liza Frulla says she is committed to promoting culture in Canada's largest city but says that to produce results all three levels of government and the private sector must cooperate.
Article says that if Industry Minister David Emerson is to protect Canadian interests, he should think twice before following the U.S. lead in adopting the broadcast flag.
Industry Minister says he does not disagree with Heritage Minister that foreign ownership limits are important to the protection of Canada's cultural industries.
Spokesperson for Liza Frulla affirms that the Minister was only referring to the size and potential of American culture when she warned Americans not to "smother" Canadian culture.
Canada is one of the many countries negotiating a UNESCO treaty that would protect the right to subsidize the cultural sector despite free trade agreements. Liza Frulla emphasizes that in Canada, culture is strongly subsidized and a great economic force.
Editorial says CHOI-FM tape-delay creates sends a message of CRTC censorship to other broadcasters.
Broadcasting predicted to be "sleeper issue" of minority Parliament.
Official statement by Minister of Canadian Heritage regarding CHOI-FM request to appeal CRTC decision.
With a by-election in the riding of Vanier and the need to bring Quebec voters, including CHOI-FM listeners, onside, nobody is complaining about a deal to keep CHOI-FM on the air during its appeal of the CRTC's licence renewal decision.
Columnist argues that the recent CRTC ruling on CHOI-FM is just one more example of 'journalism by judges', a process that allows the federal government to whittle down journalistic freedom and independence in Quebec.
Editorial says the CRTC decision to allow CHOI-FM to remain on-air until the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled on the station's court motion is "a step in the right direction".
Columnist casts doubt on whether or not CHOI-FM offended 'Canadian values'.
The CBC says its journalistic integrity would be compromised should it be included under the Access to Information Act.
The CRTC declines to block CHOI-FM injunction, allowing it to remain on-air, in order to accelerate resolution of CRTC decision appeal.
The CBC argues that being included in the access-to-information law would compromise its ability to report the news because it would, amongst other things, threaten the sources of investigative journalists.
Defeated former Heritage Minister Hélène Scherrer appointed to the post of Principal Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office.
Columnist says the Liberals have given little thought to a legislative agenda, but need legislation to occupy parliamentarians and deflect attention from other issues.
The mandate of the three-person panel appointed by the Minister of Heritage to study the issue of third language broadcasting in Canada will be limited to policy recommendations and not include changes to the Broadcasting Act.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage annouces the appointment of a three person expert panel on third-language public broadcasting.
Former Lincoln Committee chair appointed to panel studying broadcasting content in languages other than English or French in the Canadian broadcasting system.
Prime Minister has been slow to fill the large number of pending government appointments.
Broadcasting space is no longer a scarce resource, and the CRTC is therefore obsolete, columnist says.
As recent events generate controversy over the role of the CRTC, some argue that this outburst of public debate only proves the necessity of the regulator's existence.
Former Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, says those who would have the government reverse recent CRTC decisions should remember that without the CRTC, broadcast licences would be subject to "political flavours of the month".
The CRTC is a threat to freedom of expression and a relic of the past and should be abolished, columnist says.
Parliament is ducking out of a debate over CRTC's powers, article says; CRTC's powers should be scaled back.
Whatever one may think of the CRTC decision on CHOI-FM, it is reassuring that the federal government has declined to intervene.
Columnist says parliament should resort to measures such as rewriting the Broadcasting Act or using the "notwithstanding" clause to overturn CRTC decisions.
The National Post urges its readers to join protesters on Parliament Hill and demand that CHOI-FM ruling be overturned by the federal government.
Debate over recent CRTC ruling on CHOI-FM draws protesters from Quebec city to Parliament Hill.
In the interests of quality, democracy, diversity, localism and competition, the US government and the FCC must change broadcasting regulations to encourage independent media, Turner writes.
Recent protests of CRTC ruling not to renew CHOI-FM's licence has many wondering if a review of broadcast regulations is in order.
Many protesters are expected to arrive from Quebec City on station-subsidized transport in order to put pressure on federal government to overturn CRTC ruling on CHOI-FM.
The Canadian broadcast industry appears thrilled by the appointement of Liza Frulla as Minister of Canadian Heritage.
CHOI owner Patrice Demers is upset that Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has refused to overturn the CRTC's decision to suspend its licence.
Minister of Canadian Heritage tells CHOI-FM that Broadcasting Act prevents appealing CRTC decision to government.
Charest thinks CRTC should have resorted to a temporary suspension of CHOI's licence and hopes for federal intervention in the matter.
Poll of business leaders shows respondents are split on the CRTC's recent decision to shut down CHOI-FM but believe that Fox News should be allowed to broadcast in Canada.
An arm's length CRTC may be preferable to politicans making licensing decisions directly, but policy of choosing what Canadians watch and keeping out U.S. programming is wrong-headed, columnist says.
CRTC must rule on whether or not American television channel Spike TV is in direct competition with Canadian channel Men TV.
Pressure mounts in Ottawa following CRTC ruling against RAI International, as Liberals are reminded of their election promise to bring the channel to the air.
Editorial says the new Canadian Heritage Minister should not interfere with the CRTC ruling not to renew CHOI FM's licence.
The appointment of Liza Frulla as Minister of Canadian Heritage delights art and culture groups.
New Heritage Minister Liza Frulla says she stands firmly against relaxing foreign ownership limits.
Liza Frulla's appointment as Canadian Minister of Heritage is well received by ACTRA, CRIA and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
ACTRA sees appointment of Liza Frulla Minister of Canadian Heritage as a sign the government will take cultural issues seriously.
CHOI moves to fight CRTC decision by appealing to new Heritage Minister, Federal Court.
Italian-Canadians rally to Parliament Hill to protest CRTC ruling against RAI International.
A biography of Liza Frulla, the new Minister of Canadian Heritage.
New Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla praised as star Cabinet appointment; numerous commentators note her cultural and media credentials.
Parliament votes out four-member RAI board of governors, but the vote may not effectively reduce Italian Prime Minister's control over the broadcaster.
Liza Frulla and Sarmite Bulte both have strong credentials for the cabinet post; decision could be politically charged.
Columnist speculates CBC President will not be reappointed.
TVO should be cut off from tax support and turned into a not-for-profit entity like America's PBS, editorial says.
A recount has confirmed Quebec Liberal and Heritage Minister candidate Liza Frulla's victory over Thierry St-Cyr in the riding of Jeanne-Le-Ber.
Bloc and NDP power in Liberal minority government means culture-oriented industry groups have an unprecedented chance to gain support and resources, columnist says.
The new federal minority government may provide a welcoming space for culture groups to articulate their concerns.
Martin should look at Canada's previous minority governments for guidance in managing his own, columnist says.
Millions of Canadians tuned in to CTV, CBC and Global's marathon election-night coverage. The largest number watched CBC.
Speculation is rampant about who will be in Paul Martin's cabinet.
Overhauls to the CRTC's foreign ownership and communications policies may fall by the wayside under a Liberal minority.
Despite what may be an increasingly savvy electorate, the arts and culture were not emphasized during this year's federal election campaign.
Conservative cultural and tax policies could seriously harm PEI's economy, letter-writer says.
Conservative candidate promises to fight for CBC; other parties' candidates say he will have a hard time doing so in Ottawa.
An all-candidates meeting in a Guelph shows CBC an important election issue for seniors.
Policy proposal to scrap the CRTC would give government direct control over broadcast licensing, would remove protections that have allowed Canadian entertainment events like the MuchMusic Video Awards to take form.
FRIENDS gives qualified support to CRTC advertising incentive proposal, noting potential drawbacks; also recommends 150% drama time credit be retained but restricted to 8-10 pm Mon-Wed during peak viewing months.
The Liberal response to cultural groups' concerns hasn't been sufficient, columnist says.
Leaked policy revealing the Conservatives' plan to restructure the CRTC and relax foreign ownership restrictions has pushed Canadian culture onto the election agenda.
FRIENDS urges 7,000 supporters to confront Conservative candidates on broadcasting issues.
The CBC is a vital expression of Canadian nationhood, letter-writer says.
The tax cuts proposed in the Conservative platform total $37 billion, which will come from cuts to programs like the CBC, columnist says.
Industry representatives, NDP candidate Ian Waddell say Conservative plan to eliminate corporate grants and subsidies reflects misunderstanding, would destroy B.C. film industry.
In the face of challenges to the CRTC by the Conservative Party and some telecom companies, the Commission's chair says fundamental changes to the CRTC's role and structure are not required.
Speakers at ACTRA-organized gathering at CBC broadcast headquarters criticize party leaders for making no mention of cultural policy issues during televised leaders' debate.
Text of Hélène Chalifour Scherrer's speech at the Banff Television Festival.
Speakers at the Banff Television Festival call for political parties to disclose their cultural platforms.
Arts groups and Liberals criticize Tory arts policies; Conservatives and some commentators say there's nothing to worry about.
At Banff Television Festival, Minister of Canadian Heritage denounces Conservative cultural policies, while Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union asks the Liberals to come clean about their own.
Scherrer denounces Conservative cultural policies in her speech at the Banff Television Festival.
With the federal election just two weeks away, political concerns overshadow traditional workshop topics at Banff Television Festival.
Well-known Canadians join FRIENDS in expressing concern over policies proposed in Conservative party briefing note to candidates.
Well-known Canadians join FRIENDS in urging Conservative leader to reconsider broadcasting policies contained in briefing note to Conservative candidates.
Liberal Heritage Minister to criticize Conservative cultural policies in speech at Banff Television Festival; dismissed by Conservatives as fear-mongering.
Minister of Canadian Heritage discusses Liberal Party position on culture and broadcasting.
One of three winning essays in the FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting 2004 Dalton Camp Award.
Canwest Global's David Asper condemns new limits on corporate donations to political parties.
Liberal Party and Bloc Quebecois respond to request for disclosure of party policies on culture and broadcasting.
The Bloc Quebecois platform is opposed to foreign ownership of broadcasting, cable and telecommunications companies, would reinforce the power of the CRTC and ensure stable long-term funding for SRC/CBC and the Canadian Television Fund to better defend Quebec and Canadian culture.
Conservatives should consider the unintended consequences before gutting the CRTC.
FRIENDS joins cultural coalition to call on political parties to disclose their culture and broadcasting platforms.
FRIENDS announces the three winners of the 2004 Dalton Camp Award. Formal presentation: Monday, June 14th at the Banff Television Festival.
Liberals make election promise to legislate around controversy over foreign language television channels, say a Liberal government would ensure Italian channel RAI International is available in Canada.
Referring to Green Party exclusion from televised national debates, columnist says TV network executives should not control which parties have access to the democratic process.
Conservative leader's statements continue to suggest the Conservatives would eliminate subsidies for the CBC where it competes with private broadcasters.
Report on election race in Winnipeg's Charleswood-St. James riding; high profile Liberal candidate makes the race one to watch.
Conservative candidate calls for funding halt to "Communist Broadcasting Corporation", says national public broadcaster is a mouthpiece for the federal Liberal party and drives audiences away from private broadcasters.
Editorial says media conglomerates' stake in the outcome of the federal election makes them reluctant to cover media and cultural policy issues, with the result that these issues are largely being ignored.
Stable, multi-year funding for the CBC, as recommended by the all-party report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, has not been guaranteed in the platforms of either the Conservatives or the Liberals.
Asper takes shots at free news websites at Canadian newspaper conference.
Liberal party election platform fails to address important culture and broadcasting issues.
Green Party challenges networks, CRTC to be included in televised leaders' debates.
Former Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, pursues post-political career as political analyst.
Management says Radio-Canada will not cover the federal election in the event of a strike by its employees.
FRIENDS releases a guide to election advertising and other election-related media issues to federal election candidates across Canada.
Prime Minister Paul Martin confirms the federal government is reviewing foreign ownership rules, but says the impact on Canadian culture is being taken into account.
Campaign performance rather than polls are likely to decide the outcome of the 2004 federal election.
The Ontario Securities Commission has temporarily suspended trading by directors, officers and insiders of Alliance Atlantis Communications.
On the eve of a federal election, a major union is calling on Canada's political parties to come clean with their policies on foreign ownership, media concentration, and the CBC.
FRIENDS calls on Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper to clarify comments on public funding of CBC.
Pre-election poll commissioned by FRIENDS shows strong support among voters for strengthening Canadian culture and enhancing the CBC. This summary shows a breakdown of results by political party.
CPAC's Ken Rockburn interviews Ian Morrison on the results of FRIENDS' pre-election polling on the CBC, foreign ownership of communications, and media concentration.
FRIENDS survey reveals voter attitudes to Canadian culture on the eve of a federal election.
Nine out of 10 respondents to FRIENDS survey agreed that strengthening Canadian culture and identity is important as Canada-U.S. economic ties increase.
Radio-Canada and union face pressure to avoid strike/lockout during federal election.
FRIENDS tells Senate committee that CBC still has widespread support.
Transcript of FRIENDS presentation and question and answer session on the subject of media concentration in Canada.
FRIENDS' pre-election opinion poll shows Canadian voters favour maintaining foreign ownership rules, limiting media concentration, and strengthening CBC.
FRIENDS to release pre-election poll on media issues Thursday, May 13, 10:45 a.m.
Liberals appear poised to remove foreign ownership restrictions for telephone and cable companies, will be pressured to do the same for broadcasters.
The chairwoman of the Italian public broadcaster Rai has resigned to protest what she sees as political control by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Paul Martin can only alleviate Canadians' insecurities about close US ties by devoting counterbalancing resources to Canadian culture.
BCE CEO increases pressure on the federal government to update telecommunications laws, including foreign ownership restrictions.
National Post columnist says whistleblower legislation controversy shows that CBC cannot be both journalistically independent from and financially dependent on government.
CBC staff must be exempt from whistleblower legislation to preserve their journalistic independence.
CBC believes whistleblower legislation will undermine integrity of its journalists; critics say broadcaster is trying to avoid accountability measures.
E-commerce is growing, but still accounts for tiny proportion of revenues of private businesses.
Internal policy document leaked to media shows Conservative Party would relax or remove communications sector foreign ownership restrictions (p. 11), downsize and limit the role of the CRTC (p. 13) and remove protection for Canadian programming in the satellite distribution market (p. 14).
Senate report shows CBC market share has declined since 1997.
Senate inquiry into media concentration produces interim report intended to "inform Canadians" but drawing no conclusions and making no recommendations.
CBC unlikely to receive the attention it needs from a weakened Liberal government.
The 2004 federal budget restores funding cut from the Canadian Television Fund in last year's budget.
Actors' union applauds federal government for restoring funding cut from Canadian Television Fund, calls on private broadcasters to reinvest profits in production of Canadian television drama.
Paul Martin's pre-election to-do list has become so long it raises doubts he can accomplish it before a fall election, much less a spring election.
Paul Martin likely cannot postpone a spring election without looking like he fears an electoral loss.
FRIENDS recalls Sheila Copps'
New U.S. legislation increasing fines against broadcasters for broadcasting "indecent" programming could have a chilling or freezing effect on freedom of speech.
A group of organizations brought a lawsuit against the U.S. FCC to block proposed regulation of next-generation televisions and related devices.
NDP argues private broadcasters cannot replace CBC.
Columnist criticizes taxpayer funding of CBC when provinces lack resources for health care.
CBC's choice not to run the first of two debates among the leadership candidates for the Conservative party is said to depict that the "state broadcaster" [sic] has become disconnected from the concerns of average Canadians.
Tony Clement says federal spending should be slashed by billions of dollars, suggests looking at funding of CBC.
Paul Martin should take a lesson from the decisive and expeditious Hutton Inquiry if he wants to restore faith in the Canadian political system.
There is speculation that the CRTC's delay in resolving RAI and Al-Jazeera applications results from Liberal pressure not to upset voter groups prior to re-election campaign.
Former Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps may yet jump from the Liberals to the NDP.
Paul Martin's democratic reform package includes the implementation of more free votes and a tougher, more consultative path for bills before Parliament makes them law.
An Alternative Federal Budget report by the CCPA predicts a budget surplus of $8.3 billion for 2003/04, more than triple the forecast by the federal government.
To achieve the democratic reform he promises, Paul Martin will need to forgo some of his own powers as Prime Minister.
Columnist believes that Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty's proposal to consult voters to find ways to deal with the budget deficit is a promotional sham.
FRIENDS believes that support for CBC and strengthened cultural sovereignty are consistent with the Paul Martin government's stated goals.
A strengthened NDP will present challenges to the incumbent Liberal party in a federal election.
Canada's new Minister of Canadian Heritage says she will do things differently; her first challenge will be dealing with media foreign ownership.
