Source : Straight Goods

Calgary — Most voters (66 percent) believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in this sector, according to a new poll commissioned by ACTRA, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, and Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

Canada's leading voices in culture and telecommunications released the survey today at a public meeting on December 5, in Calgary where they launched a campaign called Keep It Canadian in support of current laws, which restrict foreign ownership of Canadian broadcast and telephone industries.

"There is no political upside for any party to support the sell-off of our media."

"Powerful lobbyists for the cable industry are at work right now, quietly trying to persuade the federal government to allow Americans to buy them out. If they succeed, there's nothing to stop foreign companies from taking control of Canadian media and telecommunications too," said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for Friends.

The public opinion polls results show that 62 percent of Canadians are more likely to vote for candidates who oppose giving control of Canadian media to foreign interests, up slightly from December 2003 when this question was last posed. Only 19 percent are more likely to vote for a candidate who is in favour of allowing foreign companies to own more of Canada's broadcasting and telephone companies.

Most voters believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control

"At a time when the country could be thrown into an election at any moment, the poll contains a strong message to politicians who may favour opening Canada's media to foreign ownership. There is no political upside for any party to support the sell-off of our media," said Peter Murdoch, Vice President — Media for CEP.

The results also found 82 percent of Canadians (54 percent strongly) agree that it is important that the Canadian government work to maintain and build a culture and identity distinct from the United States.

"Most Canadians want action from Ottawa to build a culture and identity distinct from the United States, whose television and movies dominate the Canadian cultural landscape," said Stephen Waddell, National Executive Director of ACTRA.

The survey reveals that the opinion of voters who lean toward supporting the Conservative Party mirrors or is greater than the general population when it comes to retaining control of Canadian communications and media companies.

"Voters the Conservative Party needs to grow their support levels in the next election value Canada's cultural sovereignty," said Ian Morrison.

The issue of foreign ownership is in play right now. Currently, the federal government has established a panel to review the policy that limits the share a foreign company can hold in a Canadian media or telecommunication company to 46.7percent. At the same time, transactions like the proposed purchase of specialty TV broadcaster Alliance Atlantis by CanWest Global stretch this policy to the breaking point because the lion's share of financing for the deal comes from the United States.

The data was gathered between November 15th to November 25th 2007 through Harris/Decima's weekly teleVox, the company's national omnibus survey. Results are based on a sample of 2,052 Canadians, and the corresponding margin of error is ±2.2 percent, 19 times out of 20.

© Straight Goods

Related Documents:

December 5, 2007 - News Release - National security & cultural sovereignty trump foreign ownership of Canadian media - Keep it Canadian
Poll results show that most voters believe broadcasting and communications are too important to national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian media companies.

December 5, 2007 - Opinion Poll - Foreign Ownership of Canadian Media and Communications
Poll results show allowing foreign interests to control Canadian media and telecom companies may be a poor strategy for Conservative growth.