Heritage Minister James Moore denies Conservative plans to cut $200 million from the CBC's parliamentary grant and says funding for arts and culture will be part of an economic stimulus package.
Canada's private broadcasters have the right to appear at the Supreme Court of Canada to argue they are being charged what they feel to be an illegal tax.
Analyst says that with the Obama administration set to "reshape" the U.S. economy "to compete in the digital age," now is the time for Canada to do the same.
FRIENDS says a confidential source had alerted the organization of Conservative plans to slash $200 million from the CBC's parliamentary grant.
Columnist says big spending at Canada's media companies has come to an end.
FRIENDS ad campaign delivers message to Conservative Party convention delegates that strengthening Canada's cultural sovereignty, as previous Conservative governments have done, could boost Stephen Harper's political fortunes.
Columnist says a court ruling may allow the owners of Canadian radio stations to reduce royalty payments to composers and musicians.
Heritage Minister James Moore says he has no plans to cancel the $45 million in cutbacks announced before the start of the federal election campaign.
FRIENDS says if the CRTC bows to cable industry deregulation it may mean more American stations and less funding of Canadian-made television.
Digital media producers are bracing for the potential elimination of Telefilm Canada's Canada New Media Fund.
Columnist says the current economic crisis could be hard on arts organizations.
The CTF has released a report highlighting success stories and detailed analyses of funding results.
Canwest is contributing $500,000 to support training programs for women in film, TV and digital media.
Although the three main opposition parties say they would renew the Canadian Television Fund, the Conservative Party has remained mute on the issue, contributing to worries about the future of Canadian TV.
Author says artists with real talent will find their own audiences and don't need government assistance.
Columnist says the Tories kept a low profile at the National Arts Centre's annual fundraising gala that was politicized this year by the prime minister's recent criticisms of the arts community.
Filmmaker who's work sheds a positive light on Canada's military mission in Afghanistan says he is being censored by the arts community.
Author and filmmaker says ordinary working people should be outraged by how little the Canadian government supports arts and culture.
The Canadian Television Fund has announced the launch of a $2 million Digital Media Pilot Program, aimed at generating a stronger Canadian presence in new media.
Columnist says Stephen Harper could be the first politician to show contempt for culture during a campaign, then reverse himself in office by showering money on the arts.
Columnist says Stephen Harper's comments about culture being a "niche concern" shows the narrowness of the Conservative vision for Canada.
Provincial and territorial culture ministers slam the Conservative government's $45-million cutbacks to arts programs and call for a special meeting with the federal government after the election.
NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker says the U.S. economic downturn has had a severe effect on broadcaster NBC's local television stations.
Outraged film and television actors defended their industry while taking shots at Prime Minister Stephen Harper for suggesting that ordinary Canucks don't care about arts funding.
Canadian actors and artists say the arts is a resource that comes from the minds of Canadians and delivers fantastic returns in the form of quality of life, education and national identity.
Political analysts says the arts may play a role in this election because it is throwing the Conservative's Quebec strategy off target.
World renowned author says Stephen Harper has demonstrated that he has no knowledge of, or respect for, the capacities and interests of "ordinary people."
Stephen Harper takes a swipe at members of the arts community in Quebec who have opposed his party's funding cuts.
Liberal leader Stephane Dion attacks Conservative leader Stephen Harper for censoring Canada's artists and underfunding cultural industries.
Letter from a FRIENDS supporter on the value of the CBC and Canadian culture in light of Conservative government cuts to arts funding.
NDP Leader Jack Layton warns that a Conservative majority government would slash or privatize the CBC.
Video of Prime Minister Harper at a press conference in Saskatoon, SK responding to criticism of cuts to arts and culture funding.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has dismissed mounting criticism of arts cuts by calling culture a "niche" issue that doesn't resonate with "ordinary" Canadians.
Columnist says that in Quebec, the Conservatives' recent $45-million cuts to the arts have morphed into an issue of cultural survival.
The executive director of the Canadian Screen Training Centre says the school may have to close if Conservative cuts to arts spending are implemented.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has lashed out at criticism of federal cuts to arts programs and lectured the Quebec government to get its priorities straight.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest is convinced the federal government will give in and restore $45 million in grants for artists and cultural enterprises.
Editorial says that if Stephen Harper believes he can bring greater efficiency to federal funding of the arts, he should do so openly – not by stealth cuts or smear campaigns.
Columnist says Quebec's artists are in a full-blown rage over what they perceive as the Tory government's contempt for the artistic community in this country.
Filmmaker says English-Canadian film is in a constant state of crisis and that Telefilm should not put such a focus on commercial viability.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest calls on the Harper government to roll back cuts of about $45 million in funding for Quebec artists.
Canadian unions and guilds criticize Prime Minister Harper for saying public subsidies should not go to cultural products that fail to connect with audiences.
The Minister of National Defence says the Conservative Government has increased funding for the arts since coming to office by almost eight per cent.
Columnist speculates Prime Minister Harper is calling an election now because of the controversy caused by arts funding cuts and charges about film censorship.
Series of Letters to the Editor on arts funding cuts and programming changes to CBC Radio Two.
Canada's broadcast regulator is seeking feedback on a proposal to amend the benefits policy so that a percentage of future television benefits would be directed to the Canadian Television Fund.
Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald slammed the federal government for planned funding cuts totalling $45 million that he says will damage the province's cultural industry.
The Conservative government is axing a $14.5 million program — administered by Telefilm — which fosters the creation of internet content and its distribution.
Artists, singers, actors, writers and politicians speak out at a Montreal rally against $48.5 million in funding cuts announced by the Conservative government.
Karen Kain, artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada, has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a plea not to stop showcasing Canadian artists abroad.
A Conservative talking-points memo states one arts program was axed because its grant recipients included "a general radical," "a left-wing and anti-globalization think-tank" and a rock band that uses an expletive as part of its name.
The executive director of the Quebec Drama Federation says the majority of groups affected by funding cuts to culture are in Quebec.
Prime Minister Harper says federal investment in culture for the 2007-08 fiscal year was $3.4-billion, up from $3.2-billion in 2006-07.
The list provided by Canadian Heritage does not include a separate Foreign Affairs program to assist the travels of artists abroad.
Columnist says arts program cuts will leave Canadians without online access to their cultural and historical heritage and will do little to promote Canadian content to the rest of the world.
Columnist says the Conservative government cuts to culture stems from media coverage of Bill C-10, which sought to deny funding to TV productions and movies it considered distasteful or offensive.
Canada's Minister of Finance says the government cancelled arts programs that had either reached their objectives, had high administration costs, had poor performance, or did not give satisfactory results.
An encounter with Laureen Harper gave a small Newfoundland & Labrador based theatre company the chance to lobby against Ottawa's recent cuts to arts funding.
Editorial says adequate government financial support for both the arts and sports should be non-negotiable, and setting up a false choice between the two makes little sense.
Columnist says that $40-million in cuts to cultural programs will be redirected to athletics and a bilingualism plan.
Columnist says Nova Scotia based Newcap Radio is proving there is profit in owning small-market radio stations.
The Conservatives say they are committed to cutting $44.8-million in spending on arts and culture by April of 2010; call the PromArt program "a boondoggle."
New poll says almost half of Britons do not think the BBC license fee offers "good value for money."
Editorial says Canada's filmmakers, musicians, writers and visual artists have ample reason to be worried about their future.
Alberta's minister of culture and community spirit says funding cuts could be a black mark on the federal government's reputation with the arts community in the province.
The Conservatives say spending on cultural programs - including the CBC - is up 19.7 per cent from when the Liberals were in power.
Cultural organizations say funding cancellations will have 'devastating effect' on Canadian musicians, composers, artists and filmmakers.
Columnist says the "pettiness" of the Conservative government in cutting off money for artists is shameful.
Conservatives stay silent as details about large cuts to cultural funding emerge.
Eschewing formal announcements, the Conservative government have posted funding cancellation notices on the web pages of cultural programs.
Action alert asking Canada's writers to contact their MP and express concern with the government's cancellation of the Prom-Art program.
Editorial says that by cutting off funding to artists and cultural institutions, the Conservatives are only showcasing their own philistinism.
The federal government has not yet indicated whether it will continue to contribute to the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund which technically wind-down at the end of March 2009.
Author and journalist Gwynne Dyer, who became an example of wasteful federal spending when the Tories axed a program to send arts and culture abroad, says he traveled at the government's request and never applied for the grant he got.
Opposition Heritage Critic says the Conservative government's cuts to cultural programs hurts both the arts community and Canada's identity overseas.
The President and CEO of the Canadian Independent Record Production Association says the cuts to two programs that support cultural exports could not come at a worse time.
Columnist says that if Canada want's to have influence in the rest of the world, sending artists and writers abroad is an integral and cost-effective part of marketing 'Brand Canada'.
Columnist says artists such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cirque Eloize and authors David Adams Richards and Susan Swan have been "injured and insulted" by the federal government's decision to cancel a grant program.
The Department of Canadian Heritage has announced it will no longer provide financing to Trade Routes — a program that helps organizations in the arts and cultural sector prepare to export and sell their goods and services in international markets.
The federal government is set to cancel a program that sent artists abroad to promote Canadian culture because money "went to groups that would raise the eyebrows of any typical Canadian".
Columnist says Canada's TV producers and the private broadcasters are gearing up for terms-of-trade negotiations this fall.
Independent producers and Canada's major television networks are set to negotiate new program-rights agreements that will tackle new-media rights for the first time.
CRTC is looking to alter its benefits policy for ownership transactions so that a percentage is directed to the Canadian Television Fund – and that the buyer could request the money be used on new media.
The government has responded to the Heritage Committee's study of CBC's mandate, rejecting the recommendation for a multi-year contract with Canadians.
A Toronto filmmaker is selling each frame of his future film to potential investors through an internet site.
Despite budget and staff cuts, the National Film Board of Canada chairman says the organization trying to build for the digital future.
Email action alert calls on U.S. citizens to sign a petition opposing the Bush administration's proposed 56 percent funding cut to public broadcasting.
Columnist says the U.S. primary elections should get an Emmy award for great television.
A CRTC proposal would split the Canadian Television Fund into separate commercial and cultural streams.
The CRTC recommends that the fund created to subsidize the production of Canadian television should support more shows based on popularity alone.
CBC says changes to the Canadian Television Fund would result in a $150M decline in funding to Canadian public sector television programming over the next 5 years.
The prospective new owners of TQS say they only want to revive the network's TV operation, not the news service.
FRIENDS says recommendations on the reform of the Canadian Television Fund will reveal whether the CRTC has the courage to stand up to the cable companies.
Weekend rally planned in Vancouver to protest CBC Radio Orchestra dissolution and Radio 2 programming changes.
Star of Trailer Park Boys condemns dearth of Canadian drama on television, traces to level of regulatory obligations placed on industry.
Two largest conventional broadcasters make joint presentation to CRTC, say fee-for-carriage would right historic wrong, ensure continued spending on local programming.
Broadcasters argue for fee-for-carriage, but resist suggestions that funds be tied to more Canadian programs and local news.
CTV and Global deliver joint presentation to CRTC advocating fee-for-carriage, citing cable and satellite companies as too-powerful gatekeepers of programming available to Canadians.
Canada Family Action Coalition says proposal to withhold tax credits from film and television productions deemed "contrary to public policy" may not go far enough.
Author comments on CBC cancellation of drama series jPod, noting that it both ignores the "tech savvy" television viewing generation and is at odds with unanimous recommendations of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
Rogers argues deregulation of broadcast distribution is not about eliminating Canadian content.
Editorial says Bill C-10 at odds with principle of arts being at arm's length from political interests.
Author describes Sarah Polley as "lefty activist", argues Bill C-10 will not result in censorship of film and television production.
Canadian actor argues proposed tax credit bill will place chill on creative community.
Chair of Senate committee studying controversial amendment to tax credit rules for film and television productions reveals Heritage Minister does not support the legislation.
Editorial says no government can be trusted with administering a proposed "contrary to public policy" test for film and television production tax credit eligibility.
Columnist attributes end of hit Canadian production Corner Gas partly to threat of censorship implied by Bill C-10.
Columnist contends public funding of the arts in Canada should be eliminated.
Columnist says Conservative government's plan to restrict tax-credit funding for "unacceptable" film and television content far more troubling than reduction in classical music on CBC Radio 2.
FRIENDS says government report shows tax credits are essential to Canadian production, calls public investment in the arts one of the cheapest and best investments Canada can make.
ACTRA responds to Conservative MP's negative characterization of actor/filmmaker Sarah Polley following her presentation before Senate Banking Committee concerning Bill C-10.
Satellite distributor defends free access to over-the-air signals for distribution, calls fee-for-carriage proposals "looking for a handout".
Columnist challenges CBC management talking points rationalizing decision to reduce classical music on Radio 2.
Sixth season hit of Canadian comedy Corner Gas to be its last.
Creative community calls for restrictive definition of proposed "contrary to public policy" criterion that would be used to determine eligibility for film and television production tax credits.
Columnist says CBC Television proposal to provide English-language coverage of Montreal Canadiens games during playoffs contrasts with complete lack of such coverage at other times.
Columnist claims cable and satellite subscribers will cancel or downgrade their subscriptions and pursue Internet and illegal grey market broadcasting services if fee-for-carriage proposal is adopted.
FRIENDS presentation to the CRTC on possible regulation changes for Canada's cable and satellite industry.
Rogers says it stands ready to challenge the decision if CRTC agrees to grant fee-for-carriage for conventional broadcasters.
More than half of Canadians believe Canada's TV production industry would not survive if cable and satellite industry were deregulated, says FRIENDS co-sponsored poll.
Columnist says that for CBC executives a NHL playoff schedule that involves Canadian teams playing on Saturday nights will have a potentially huge impact on playoff programming, audiences and advertising.
The senior vice-president of Canwest Media says her company provides a valuable community service and has to meet "costly Canadian programming obligations", therefore deserves fee-for-carriage of local TV signals.
The vice chairman of Rogers Communications says fee-for-carriage of local TV signals would force Canadians to feed exaggerated investor expectations, underwrite the cost of media acquisitions and reward inadequate business planning.
The Heritage Minister announces $539,471 to establish and manage community radio stations.
Study shows younger people are more likely to get their news online rather than from
Television broadcasters and producers will have about $275 million in Canadian Television Fund money at their disposal for 2008/09.
Digest of national funding and investment sources available for Canadian independent film and television program development, production and/or distribution.
FRIENDS research shows a widening gap between what private broadcasters are investing in Canadian television programing and what they are purchasing from foreign sources.
Canadian film company Peace Arch Entertainment has scrapped plans to buy UK-based ContentFilms, a company at the centre of a debate over the purchase of several hundred hours of CBC programs.
Columnist sees parallels between Jim Shaw's attack on the CTV and the Conservative bit to rescinded tax credits for TV and film productions deemed "offensive."
The Opposition Critic for Canadian Heritage calls the lack attention to culture in the federal budget "a joke".
ACTRA says the federal budget was a missed opportunity to increase funding to the Canadian Television Fund and Telefilm.
Columnist says that the 2008-2009 federal budget will be a disappointment to Canada's artists, cultural organizations and art lovers.
FRIENDS says that it is unlikely the Conservative government would cut off the CBC in any decisions made regarding the Canadian Television Fund.
Columnist says a two tiered CTF funding system has already been tried and caused confusion and frustration for everyone involved.
Columnist says Canadian writers made a passionate plea for the Canadian Television Fund at the CRTC hearings.
CTVglobemedia calls a plan that would see Quebecor pull out of the Canadian Television Fund and set up its own program a "dangerous idea".
Shaw Communications and Quebecor tell the CRTC that $288 million Canadian Television Fund is fundamentally flawed.
CTVglobemedia told a three-member CRTC panel that Shaw, western Canada's biggest cable company, is misrepresenting the benefits it has reaped from the fund.
Shaw Communications wants to give the money distributors pay into the Canadian Television Fund back to TV subscribers because the "subsidy" model has failed to create a viable homegrown production industry.
The executive producer of the CBC drama series 'The Border' says the problem with splitting the Canadian Television Fund into two tiers is that it runs counter to the fundamental spirit of what it is to be Canadian.
Columnist reports on the atmosphere surrounding the first day of the Canadian Television Fund hearings.
The Canadian Television Fund warns against any move by the CRTC that would link production dollars to viewer numbers.
The vice-chairman of Rogers Communications says it makes no sense to force private-sector broadcasters to pay for programs designed to further social-policy or government objectives.
It ain't broke, so don't fix it, supporters of the Canadian Television Fund told CRTC commissioners at a hearing into the fund's revenue model and governance.
Letter to the Editor, Globe and Mail - FRIENDS says the money Jim Shaw is threatening to withhold are fees the CRTC has allowed the cable monopolies to collect from their customers provided they passed along 50% to the Canadian Television Fund.
Actors, directors, writers and producers described Canadian private broadcasters as greedy capitalists who care little about Canadian programming at Canadian Television Fund hearings.
CBC/Radio-Canada executives say that CBC's 37 per cent CTF envelope should be retained.
Article says cast members from Trailer Park Boys, Little Mosque on the Prairie, ReGenesis and other hit TV shows are expected appear on Parliament Hill in support of the Canadian Television Fund.
Canadian actors, writers and directors attacked Shaw Communications CEO at the CTF hearings for spreading what they say are myths about the Canadian Television Fund and for not showing up to defend his comments before the CRTC.
The Directors Guild of Canada has asked the CRTC to support the Canadian Television Fund and not to adopt the recommendations of the CTF Task Force Report.
Jim Shaw is refusing to attend the Canadian Television Fund hearings, accusing the CRTC of not taking the matter seriously.
Columnist says that Jim Shaw's aggressive position towards the Canadian Television Fund has forced the agency into a rigorous self-examination that may ultimately enhance its relevance.
Columnist says hundreds of millions of new dollars could pour into the Canadian television system under a new fee-for-carriage plan proposed by CTVglobemedia and Canwest.
The department of Canadian Heritage has announced it plans to "redesign" the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund that currently provide more than $76-million annually to an estimated 1,200 newspapers and magazines.
Canwest and CTVglobemedia say then need fee-for-carriage for their over-the-air local TV signals because of "Audience fragmentation, the rise of new media platforms, new commercial-skipping technologies, and ongoing illegal downloading of content."
The president of Shaw Communications says he'll be giving the federal broadcast regulator an earful next month when it holds hearings into the future of the Canadian Television Fund.
The Canadian Television Fund is preparing for CRTC hearings that will once again prompt public scrutiny of its raison d'être in an era of digital media.
Recently financed films by Telefilm Canada include two that deal with hockey and three about the appearance of alien visitors on Earth.
