One Comment

1. Olde Bill says:

   March 24, 2008 at 10:16 am

   Here we go again
   Maybe I don\\\’t understand the problem.

   I think I understand the comment made by Mr. Richardson,
   \\\”Canadians are \\\”incredibly\\\” fixated on the regulation of Canadian content\\\” and \\\”You know, Canadians want to have rules and regulations about things….\\\”
   -if he means that Canadians want to see more (high Quality) Canadian content AVAILABLE, he may be right.

   However, If he means to limit access to non-Canadian content, — I\\\’m certain he is wrong.

   In a similar vein, a comment attributed to ACTRA
   \\\”ACTRA is one of several stakeholders proposing a levy on Internet service providers, or ISPs, to help fund the creation of digital content in the same way that satellite and cable TV providers are required to use a portion of their revenues to help fund Canadian television programs.\\\”

   There is a distinct difference between ISPs and satellite and cable TV providers, one provides the electronic highway, the others are retailers along the highway (actually – in this case, an entirely different highway). I may drive along the highway without ever going to my local theatre.
   If I do CHOOSE to purchase \\\”entertainment\\\”, then I do so knowing what I want and the costs involved. ie My choice.

   I suspect that this predilection for levies by many organizations/groups has more to do with the potentially huge cash flow (and having the government act as cashier), than as a means of fairly and equitably collecting revenue from willing customers.

   Taxing the general population to support a defunct industry does not work. Taxing users of an (almost essential) service to support an entirely different ( and definitely non-essential) business makes no sense at all.