Post Tagged with: "oda"

Pre-Judging James Moore

Billboard runs a story today titled Canadian Biz Raises Concerns About Government Appointment. The article features music industry criticisms of new Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, with comments of the "fox running the chicken house" and that the appointment is "a kick in the head of Quebec for not supporting Harper." Those unwarranted criticisms suggest that Moore will not be sensitive to music industry demands since he has a broadcasting background and is not from Quebec.

Both of these criticisms are off-the-mark. First, a broadcast background increasingly appears to be a pre-requisite for the position – Josee Verner, Bev Oda, and Liza Frulla all came from the broadcast industry and no one would accuse them of siding against the music industry. Second, the notion that a Heritage minister must come from Quebec is also wrong – Sheila Copps is widely viewed as the most influential Heritage minister in recent times and she was from Hamilton.

The reality is that it is far too early to cast judgment on the appointment.

November 13, 2008 — 1 comment — News

A Producer’s Perspective on C-61

Brad Fox lists three reasons why C-61 is "bad policy for both consumers and content producers."

July 4, 2008 — Comments are Disabled — News

Verner’s Challenge

The recent decision to shift Bev Oda out of the Canadian Heritage portfolio was one of the cabinet shuffle's worst kept secrets. While the current conventional wisdom is that Oda's replacement – Quebec City MP Josée Verner – will be a stronger voice for culture around the cabinet table, my technology law column this week (Toronto Star version, homepage version) argues that a change in Minister may not be enough. While Oda had her shortcomings, the reality may be that the problem lies less with the identity of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and more with the department itself.

Few doubt the importance of the cultural sector from both an economic and social policy perspective, yet that status is not reflected in the Department of Canadian Heritage, which has gradually morphed primarily into a granting agency for various cultural initiatives. Increased funding for festivals, films, museums, and other culture industry programs may be worthwhile, however, the problem with the grant approach is that it has locked Canadian Heritage into the status quo at a time of dramatic change.

August 27, 2007 — 6 comments — Columns

Canadian Heritage Must Face Up To New Digital Reality

Appeared in the Toronto Star on August 26, 2007 as Time to Rethink Canadian Heritage's Mandate The recent decision to shift Bev Oda out of the Canadian Heritage portfolio was one of the cabinet shuffle's worst kept secrets. Oda was labeled by many commentators as a weak Minister – the […]

August 27, 2007 — Comments are Disabled — Columns Archive

The Cabinet Shuffle

As expected, the Conservative government shuffled its cabinet this afternoon with major changes to several of the Ministries that figure prominently in digital issues. Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda has been replaced by Josée Verner, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier has moved to Foreign Affairs, with Jim Prentice taking over the Industry file. What does this mean for copyright, telecommunications, and other digital issues?

It is tempting to say very little – the Prime Minister is viewed as having a hand in all key policy issues and given the likely controversy surrounding copyright reform, telecommunications issues such as the spectrum auction, and lawful access, PM Harper will have much to say about the final policy no matter who serves as Minister.

That said, individual Ministers clearly place their own stamp on particular issues.

August 14, 2007 — 1 comment — News