A wise government would say they made a mistake, and walk away, fixing stupid things they've done (see also the gun buyback). Their inability to do that is deeply troubling. Doubling down on stupid or ineffective things is not a "success". As for the CRTC, I still don't understand why it exists.
This is all so boring. Bill C-11 was the product of political party coalition members looking for their interests to be served. I bet the Canadian Association of Broadcasters wrote most of the bill's text.
The problem is those interests manifest almost entirely in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver where government grants, or funds wrested from American companies, underwrite the salaries of the people working in those industries. I get it. The problem is the old saw that they are essential to 'telling Canadian stories'. Just no. Anyone with a cellphone can post Grandma's birthday party or junior's first hockey game to YouTube or Facebook. For better or worse, these are the record of Canadian life. Your brave film detailing the struggles and triumphs of X, or holding to account those you don't agree with, are not. Do not conflate art with industry.
C-11 is a conduit of redistribution, not an essential part of national sovereignty, but don't tell Radio-Canada that.
No surprises here - look at the efficiency of the Air Travel Complaints, the military equipment procurement, the passport fiasco etc. These people would screw up an anvil.
Not yet, but as soon as that Carney majority happens, substack will be banned in Canada and everyone who has written something negative about the liberals will have their bank account frozen.
I spent some 45 years working for regulators (the CRTC, the old Canadian Transport Commission) and in the industries that they regulate. I now believe that there should be no regulation, apart from allocation of scarce resources such as spectrum, and interconnection of networks (if the private sector fails, which it hasn't done yet). Other policy objectives should be met by carefully designed subsidies from general government revenues, minimizing distortions and enssuring that politicians have some skin in the game.
Put bluntly, the regulator doesn't know enough to do a proper job, doesn't have the tools, and doesn't have the courage to be truly independent so as to pursue the broader public interest (as opposed to narrow special interests who have the money to invest in regulatory processes).
Canadian Content requirements and associated subsidies for "telling our stories" have been around for 70 years, and haven't got much to show for it. I can pull up a streaming service like Netflix or Prime and find a large number of foreign-produced shows that provide compelling viewing. Heck, there are a couple of streaming services *dedicated* to British programming! Has our CanCon regime produced anything comparable?
The one thing CanCon has been good for is subsidizing a relatively small group of people who apparently don't have the chops to make it in the commercial market. They're the ones who squeal and scream every time there's a perceived threat to this funding or broadcast obligations. I'm pretty sure what's left of commercial radio would breathe a sigh of relief at not having to program and track their percentage of Canadian content; TV networks might get slightly better ad revenue if they didn't have to sell time for unpopular Canadian dreck they're obligated to carry.
As for the rest of us, we'd quit having to pay an invisible tax on our entertainment choices to subsidize the production of something we don't want and don't watch. At least with supply managed dairy, I may be overpaying for milk, but it's my choice to buy it. CanCon is basically like charging you extra at the grocery store for every item, and dropping off a supply-managed brick of flavorless cheese on your doorstep every week whether you want it or not.
Getting rid of cable TV, using a VPN, and finding alternative sources for news has improved my understanding of how truly awful the Canadian federal government is at everything they try.
The CRTC - just another of the many examples of government overreach, bureaucratic bungling and empire building that so infest Canada much to our detriment.
A wise government would say they made a mistake, and walk away, fixing stupid things they've done (see also the gun buyback). Their inability to do that is deeply troubling. Doubling down on stupid or ineffective things is not a "success". As for the CRTC, I still don't understand why it exists.
Absolutely. The CRTC is a dinosaur. Has been a dinosaur for 20 years, the bureaucracy in Ottawa is only interested in themselves, not Canadians.
This is all so boring. Bill C-11 was the product of political party coalition members looking for their interests to be served. I bet the Canadian Association of Broadcasters wrote most of the bill's text.
The problem is those interests manifest almost entirely in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver where government grants, or funds wrested from American companies, underwrite the salaries of the people working in those industries. I get it. The problem is the old saw that they are essential to 'telling Canadian stories'. Just no. Anyone with a cellphone can post Grandma's birthday party or junior's first hockey game to YouTube or Facebook. For better or worse, these are the record of Canadian life. Your brave film detailing the struggles and triumphs of X, or holding to account those you don't agree with, are not. Do not conflate art with industry.
C-11 is a conduit of redistribution, not an essential part of national sovereignty, but don't tell Radio-Canada that.
No surprises here - look at the efficiency of the Air Travel Complaints, the military equipment procurement, the passport fiasco etc. These people would screw up an anvil.
Sheep led by…sheep.
.... rats. Sheep eat only grass, rats eat anything, including humans and human economy. Just look at the "Liberals", leftists.
Let them all die. Canadian media is mostly (at least) government-subsidized propaganda now anyway.
Let the CRTC die too. Better yet, take it behind the barn and shoot it.
There. Are those comments going to land me in jail for inciting hate?
Probably not Mongoose. You're Anonymous.
Only by name. I'm pretty sure someone smart enough can find me.
Not yet, but as soon as that Carney majority happens, substack will be banned in Canada and everyone who has written something negative about the liberals will have their bank account frozen.
That's a very scary proposition
Another sac of Idiot King Trudeau's garbage keeps festering.
LOL! It's just all so Liberal. Regulate and stifle investment, pontificate and blame the victims. New boss, same as the old boss.
If it moves, tax it. If it keep moving, regulate it and if it stops moving, subsidize it.
The idea that regulations are screwing this up in the first place are way too far above those bozos heads.
As always, Peter, good writing with just the right amount of (well deserved) snark.
Dang and here I was waiting for those Beachcombers and Junior Forest Rangers reruns.
I’m waiting for Quentin Durgens,MP
Thank you, once again, Mr. Menzies.
I spent some 45 years working for regulators (the CRTC, the old Canadian Transport Commission) and in the industries that they regulate. I now believe that there should be no regulation, apart from allocation of scarce resources such as spectrum, and interconnection of networks (if the private sector fails, which it hasn't done yet). Other policy objectives should be met by carefully designed subsidies from general government revenues, minimizing distortions and enssuring that politicians have some skin in the game.
Put bluntly, the regulator doesn't know enough to do a proper job, doesn't have the tools, and doesn't have the courage to be truly independent so as to pursue the broader public interest (as opposed to narrow special interests who have the money to invest in regulatory processes).
Not a direct question but, is CPAC the only network that televises committee hearings? Would the government benefit if those weren’t televised?
The best place to watch committee meetings is Northern Perspective.
Ryan and Tanya, the hosts of the show, are great at explaining what is going on.
Canadian Content requirements and associated subsidies for "telling our stories" have been around for 70 years, and haven't got much to show for it. I can pull up a streaming service like Netflix or Prime and find a large number of foreign-produced shows that provide compelling viewing. Heck, there are a couple of streaming services *dedicated* to British programming! Has our CanCon regime produced anything comparable?
The one thing CanCon has been good for is subsidizing a relatively small group of people who apparently don't have the chops to make it in the commercial market. They're the ones who squeal and scream every time there's a perceived threat to this funding or broadcast obligations. I'm pretty sure what's left of commercial radio would breathe a sigh of relief at not having to program and track their percentage of Canadian content; TV networks might get slightly better ad revenue if they didn't have to sell time for unpopular Canadian dreck they're obligated to carry.
As for the rest of us, we'd quit having to pay an invisible tax on our entertainment choices to subsidize the production of something we don't want and don't watch. At least with supply managed dairy, I may be overpaying for milk, but it's my choice to buy it. CanCon is basically like charging you extra at the grocery store for every item, and dropping off a supply-managed brick of flavorless cheese on your doorstep every week whether you want it or not.
Getting rid of cable TV, using a VPN, and finding alternative sources for news has improved my understanding of how truly awful the Canadian federal government is at everything they try.
"......or has time rewritten every line?"
"Tell me another story about how Canada turned to pieces & broke apart, Grandpa. Was it really ever as grand as you have described?"
Omnia habuimus et dedimus
Ahhh Socialism, sigh. So rewarding. Just makes you warm all over.
The CRTC - just another of the many examples of government overreach, bureaucratic bungling and empire building that so infest Canada much to our detriment.