Discussion about Canadian culture has been missing from the current election campaign, according to a group of prominent actors who gathered to draw attention to their concerns.
'We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want,' comic actor Colin Mochrie said at a conference aimed at increasing political focus on culture. 'The only freedom we don't have is financial.'
Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits, Colin Mochrie and R.H. Thomson were among those who assembled in Toronto Wednesday morning to call on the federal political parties to share their cultural platforms with Canadian voters.
From www.cbc.ca
"During this federal election campaign, we have heard nothing about cultural issues and we're here today to put culture on the election agenda and to demand action," Crewson said.
"Our own broadcasters are more interested in simulcasting U.S. programming than they are in showing Canadian programs. The reality is this: we are being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it," she added.
"We are facing cultural appropriation by the U.S. and our next government needs to take action."
Mochrie, who has been seen on TV comedy shows in both the U.S. and in Canada, emphasized the difference between them.
While on the U.S. production Who's Line Is It Anyway?, Mochrie had a nifty wardrobe and dined from a well-stocked craft table, but he recalled listening to arguments "over whether the word penis would be used in the show" and "whether it would be inappropriate for me to fake-kiss a man on the lips."
Conversely, while working on CBC-TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mochrie joked, he may have once worn a hand-me-down wig and had only snacks to nibble on backstage, but he had the freedom to do skits like one about Viagra, where "my erect penis gets stuck in an elevator door."
"We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want," he concluded. "The only freedom we don't have is financial."
Stage and screen actress Fiona Reid recalled that in 1999, there had been a dozen, hour-long, English-Canadian dramas shown on TV during prime time. By the end of 2005, that number had dwindled to just three following CRTC changes (in 1999) that loosened Canadian content regulations during prime time.
"We have to get the teeth back in those regulations," Reid urged. "We must not apologize for asking government to support culture. Every other developed nation – save the United States and India – supports their culture and they make no bones about it...it takes money."
Wednesday's event, organized by English-language performers union ACTRA, stressed the three main issues it is pursuing with politicians:
* New CRTC content and spending requirements for private broadcasters.
* Increasing and stabilized funding for the Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm and the CBC.
* Maintaining current limits to foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves.
These issues were included in a series of questions the national union sent out to the major parties, including the Green Party, in early December. However, after follow-up letters and phone calls, only the NDP and the Bloc have replied.
"We haven't heard anything from the Green Party although they've got something on their website about culture. Nothing from the Liberals or the Conservatives," Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's national executive director, told CBC Arts Online.
"So where are they? Where do they stand?" he asked. "We're hopeful that we will get a response. Why not? These are very simple questions. Tell us what you believe in terms of the future of Canadian culture."
CANADIAN CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THREAT
January 11, 2005 - Toronto - Canadian stars today called on federal politicians to let Canadians know where they stand on Canada’s cultural future. Among those members of ACTRA taking
part in a Toronto press conference were Wendy Crewson, Richard Hardacre, Dan Lett, Miriam McDonald, Colin Mochrie, Cara Pifko, Karl Pruner, Fiona Reid, Wayne Robson, Sonja Smits, Julie Stewart, and R.H. Thomson. These well-known Canadian actors are determined to raise the alarm during this election about the threat to Canada's cultural sovereignty.
"It is our culture that defines us as a nation - it is what makes us who we are. Unfortunately, Canadians are overwhelmed by Hollywood content from American broadcasters; they're dumping their product into Canada. We're being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it. Our next government needs to take immediate action," said Wendy Crewson.
At the press conference, actors spoke passionately of their concerns about the devastating decline of Canadian drama programming on our television screens and the lack of Canadian films in our movie theatres. They also drew attention to the alarming potential for foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves and the need for increased long-term funding for Telefilm, the Canadian Television Fund and the CBC.
"U.S. programming dominates our private broadcasters' schedules and Canadian drama is disappearing from our own TV screens. We're asking politicians to tell us that they will direct the CRTC to impose both drama content and spending requirements on private broadcasters so that Canadians can see our own diverse culture on our screens," said R.H. Thomson.
Culture is a $26 billion dollar industry that provides more than 700,000 direct jobs for Canadians. Performers and others in our cultural industries are frustrated that federal politicians are ignoring such a large part of Canada’s economy and sovereignty.
"There are less than two weeks left in this federal election campaign and we know very little about the parties’ plans on cultural issues," said Crewson.
"Canadians deserve to see the parties' cultural planks before we let them lead us down a path of no return" said Thomson. "And we’re asking Canadians to vote for the party and candidates who are most committed to taking action to give our country a strong, vibrant and independent culture."
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.
Later,
Kenaz
