5 ms·

The other commenter put it better than I would. But Canada is so multi-cultural there really isn't one "Canadian Culture". Most of our "Canadian content" is no

by Fogest 5y ago

The other commenter put it better than I would. But Canada is so multi-cultural there really isn't one "Canadian Culture". Most of our "Canadian content" is no different than American content, it just happens to be filmed in Canada. But even a lot of American shows do a lot of filming in Canada. There is really no "Canadian music" either, it's really just the same as American music. But it isn't just American content I get exposed to. I also get exposed to a lot of other content from all around the world. Take the recent culturally popular hit on Netflix "Squid Game". Should Netflix be forced to show me something from Canada instead of promoting Squid Game simply because they are legally forced to? Shouldn't they be showing me something they think I will like regardless of where it came from? In fact Netflix does exactly this and does suggest content that is even in other languages with English dubs or subtitles. Instead of being forced to listen or watch subsidized Canadian content I am able to watch whatever would interest me the most from anywhere in the world. In my opinion your view is an old style view that applies to a less connected version of the world. With how connected we are now and how easily I can see content from across the world it feels like an old fashioned approach to do what you are suggesting. And it feels extra silly with just how much more multi-cultural Canada has become.

908B64B197 5y ago
> There is really no "Canadian music" either, it's really just the same as American music. What’s interesting is that you can see the quotas the government place on radio stations as a form of subsidies. Meaning that, according to the government, Justing Bieber signing about “Georgia Peaches” and consuming drugs in California counts as Canadian Music and Culture (he was born in Canada). > Take the recent culturally popular hit on Netflix "Squid Game". Should Netflix be forced to show me something from Canada instead of promoting Squid Game simply because they are legally forced to? Rent-seekers seem to think so! Why try to innovate and compete in a fair marketplace when you can simply have special rules that your content has to be promoted?
- didibus 5y ago
  > Rent-seekers seem to think so! Why try to innovate and compete in a fair marketplace when you can simply have special rules that your content has to be promoted? This is missing my point, because you are reducing the content to a mindless product of consumption. The point of promoting and prioritizing Canadian content is not financially motivated. It is politically motivated. The point is to safeguard free speech and the right to be heard of Canadians within Canadian society. That means that first nations should have a proportional spot in broadcasts. If they represent 5% of all Canadians, then all broadcast should include 5% of their speech, ideas, and culture, which let their voices, opinions, values, morales, and heritage be spoken and heard through the content, be it news media, opinion pieces, talk shows, stories, etc.
  - 908B64B197 5y ago
    > The point of promoting and prioritizing Canadian content is not financially motivated. It is politically motivated. Of course. Even more so when you consider a big portion of that it through a government owned and controlled broadcaster.
didibus 5y ago
You should read my reply to the other commenter. I'm taking a view that is about giving all Canadians the right to free speech and to be heard by other Canadians. Not one that is about the consumer and for them to have the most interesting and entertaining content at the cheapest price. That means that if Canadians are looking to broadcast a message or values or some of their history and culture or any idea, either through a news report, an opinion piece, a talk show, a story told as music or a movie, etc. Well they should be able to do so without having to win the free market and outcompete everyone else even foreign broadcasters or content makers. That means, reserve them a little bit of "air time" to give their message a chance to reach other Canadians. This is their right to free speech, to be heard and be considered as Canadians by other Canadians without intermediary controlling their narrative or financial and other interests playing into it. You don't have to make all of it just that, 60% or 70% can still just be free for all free market pure consumer driven of what makes money versus what doesn't. But to reserve a fraction of that, like 30%, for Canadians looking to reach other Canadians through broadcast I think that's a great thing as a society and we need to make sure there are ways for them to do so that are protected by our institutions. And that's also why sometimes some of those programs will even get grants, to help them produce the content. It's about preserving people's right to have a voice in our society, even the poors.
- 908B64B197 5y ago
  Wouldn't people be seeking that content anyways without any subsidies or special rules? Assuming they do want to consume it.

by Fogest 5y ago

908B64B197 5y ago

> There is really no "Canadian music" either, it's really just the same as American music. What’s interesting is that you can see the quotas the government place on radio stations as a form of subsidies. Meaning that, according to the government, Justing Bieber signing about “Georgia Peaches” and consuming drugs in California counts as Canadian Music and Culture (he was born in Canada). > Take the recent culturally popular hit on Netflix "Squid Game". Should Netflix be forced to show me something from Canada instead of promoting Squid Game simply because they are legally forced to? Rent-seekers seem to think so! Why try to innovate and compete in a fair marketplace when you can simply have special rules that your content has to be promoted?

didibus 5y ago
> Rent-seekers seem to think so! Why try to innovate and compete in a fair marketplace when you can simply have special rules that your content has to be promoted? This is missing my point, because you are reducing the content to a mindless product of consumption. The point of promoting and prioritizing Canadian content is not financially motivated. It is politically motivated. The point is to safeguard free speech and the right to be heard of Canadians within Canadian society. That means that first nations should have a proportional spot in broadcasts. If they represent 5% of all Canadians, then all broadcast should include 5% of their speech, ideas, and culture, which let their voices, opinions, values, morales, and heritage be spoken and heard through the content, be it news media, opinion pieces, talk shows, stories, etc.
- 908B64B197 5y ago
  > The point of promoting and prioritizing Canadian content is not financially motivated. It is politically motivated. Of course. Even more so when you consider a big portion of that it through a government owned and controlled broadcaster.

didibus 5y ago

You should read my reply to the other commenter. I'm taking a view that is about giving all Canadians the right to free speech and to be heard by other Canadians. Not one that is about the consumer and for them to have the most interesting and entertaining content at the cheapest price. That means that if Canadians are looking to broadcast a message or values or some of their history and culture or any idea, either through a news report, an opinion piece, a talk show, a story told as music or a movie, etc. Well they should be able to do so without having to win the free market and outcompete everyone else even foreign broadcasters or content makers. That means, reserve them a little bit of "air time" to give their message a chance to reach other Canadians. This is their right to free speech, to be heard and be considered as Canadians by other Canadians without intermediary controlling their narrative or financial and other interests playing into it. You don't have to make all of it just that, 60% or 70% can still just be free for all free market pure consumer driven of what makes money versus what doesn't. But to reserve a fraction of that, like 30%, for Canadians looking to reach other Canadians through broadcast I think that's a great thing as a society and we need to make sure there are ways for them to do so that are protected by our institutions. And that's also why sometimes some of those programs will even get grants, to help them produce the content. It's about preserving people's right to have a voice in our society, even the poors.

908B64B197 5y ago
Wouldn't people be seeking that content anyways without any subsidies or special rules? Assuming they do want to consume it.