>>> Stayin' alive
We noticed a new comment in the guestbook at work today: "If God forbid, Harper wins, I hope he leaves you alone." Unfortunately, the man still leads in the polls, according to newspapers like the Globe and Mail.
At first, my greatest fears of Stephen Harper as Prime Minister were related to social issues such as a woman's right to choose, same-sex marriage rights and privatization of health care. But up until this week, the idea of Harper as PM also raises an arguably more important issue for me, personally: arts, media and culture.
The Conservatives have voiced their opinion that a publicly funded media outlet like the CBC is "unnecessary." According to Tony Clement, who ran against Harper for Tory leadership, private media does the job just fine. We already have CTV, CHUM and of course those horrid, right-wing CanWest Global stations. This seems to be the opinion of Conservatives and if they actually, truly believe that there is no need for the CBC, then this is evidence that they have no understanding of media in this country.
According to a document issued by the Conservatives last week, the Canadian Radio and Television Commission [CRTC] is in need of restructuring, with possible elimination of CanCon restrictions. Such a move could be devestating for Canadian broadcasting, and the media in general. This isn't something that just effects people directly in the broadcasting industry, this effects people like Canadian musicians who rely on CanCon regulations to have their music heard on our airwaves.
This means there would be increased American programming and less Canadian programs on the radio and television. Love or hate Sloan, Bryan Adams, Train 48 and The Newsroom, these things are crucial to Canadian culture.
Perhaps even more important is the influence this change could have on the way news is covered. Canadian news coverage is far superior to its American counterparts. Fox "News" is the leading news broadcast in the U.S. and the idea of Canadian media being bullied by such a broadcaster and its pathetic idea of news frightens me.
Canadian culture and identity is already in danger. If Harper has his way with us, we might as well just let the Americans invade our country and be the 51st state. We won't recognize ourselves anyway.
More info:
Canadian Film and Television Production Association's press release
Directors Guild of Canada
x-posted to andyc | 
