Post Tagged with: "Cultural Policy"

Do We Still Need Foreign Ownership Restrictions in Canadian Broadcasting?

Appeared in the Toronto Star on March 6, 2011 as Content Rules, Not Canadian Ownership, Protect Our Culture In recent weeks, a political consensus has begun to emerge on the benefits of removing restrictions on foreign ownership in the telecommunications sector. Implementing such reforms faces at least one major political […]

March 10, 2011 — Comments are Disabled — Columns Archive

Consultation Lays Bare Divide Over Future of Canadian Book Industry

Late this summer, as thousands of Canadians were playing with their coveted new Apple iPads, the government quietly disclosed that it was conducting a regulatory review of Apple and its entry into the electronic book market. The review caught many by surprise, with some left wondering why any government intervention was needed for another offering in the popular iTunes store.

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the answer lies in Canada’s longstanding cultural policy and the significant protections it establishes over the publication, distribution and sale of books. These include restrictions on foreign entry into the Canadian marketplace that reserve majority ownership for Canadians on the premise that an open market would hamper the ability of Canadian authors, publishers and booksellers to compete.

October 27, 2010 — 17 comments — Columns

Canadians Play a Lead Role in Books 2.0

Appeared in the Toronto Star on February 25, 2008 as Canadians Are Playing Key Role in 'Books 2.0' Last year, the Department of Canadian Heritage commissioned Turner-Riggs, a Vancouver-based market-analysis company, to study the Canadian book retail market. The resulting report – The Book Retail Sector in Canada – has […]

February 25, 2008 — 1 comment — Columns Archive

Montreal Gazette on Gilberto Gil

The Montreal Gazette reports on a visit to Canada by Brazilian Culture Minister and musician Gilberto Gil. When told of Canadians' demand for public consultations on the copyright issue, Gil responded "That's it, that's what this is all about. A multiple discussion of what can and can't done. It can't […]