Nurturing Excellence - Sharing Canadian Stories 2005

From Tiny Acorns

Encouraging the widespread acceptance of other cultural traditions involves recognizing and nurturing excellence. This nurturing process comprises two major activities: maintaining existing artistic and cultural excellence, and encouraging the talent of the future.

Significant support for Canada's cultural industries is set out in legislation and regulations. Since 1971, Canada has had content rules that ensure Canadian-produced television and radio programming is prominently represented on Canadian airwaves. Today, at least 60 percent of programming by traditional Canadian television stations must be Canadian. On radio, 35 percent of popular music selections must be Canadian on English-language stations, and on French-language stations, 65 percent of vocal music must be in French. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission administers these rules, and is responsible for giving particular impetus to Canada's music and television production industries.

Many of Canada's internationally known recording artists have benefited from broadcast regulations that ensure a place for them on Canadian commercial radio. They include such diverse talents as Susan Aglukark, Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, The Tragically Hip and Simple Plan, all of whom have succeeded in very different musical styles.

The same is true of Canadian television. Canada's cultural policies have led to the production of many popular programs and series, such as DaVinci's Inquest, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Annie et ses hommes, Corner Gas and Les Bougon. The availability of excellent training opportunities has benefited Canadian talent for many years. Government of Canada support to centres such as the National Theatre School, the National Ballet School and the Banff Centre for the Arts ensures that Canadians do not have to leave their own country to receive professional training of the highest calibre. This training enables them to create new, original, and exciting works that speak to our identity as Canadians and to our role in the world.

Canada shares its vision with the world in various ways: by signing international agreements, by attracting foreign expertise and investment in its cultural industries, and by participating in a growing international network on cultural diversity. Canada also encourages its artists to form alliances with artists from other nations. The Government of Canada currently manages audio-visual co-production treaties with 53 countries. In 2004, 63 co-productions generated economic activity valued at more than $371 million, representing roughly 20 percent of all Canadian productions. Some of the largest co-productions in recent years include: Les Invasions barbares (The Barbarian Invasions), a Canada/France co-production that won an Oscar for best foreign language film in 2004 and a César in France for best film; Les Triplettes de Belleville (The Triplets of Belleville), a Canada/ France co-production that was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for an Oscar in the best animated film category in 2004; and Spider, a Canada/UK co-production that was nominated for a Palme d'or at Cannes and awarded "Best Canadian Film" at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Canada also protects the rights of creators internationally. The Copyright Act protects the work of authors, playwrights, songwriters, performers, software designers and other creators. Canadian legislation reflects Canada's obligations under international copyright treaties, protecting the rights of foreign creators to the same extent as Canadian creators are protected under the laws of other countries when their works are used abroad. The principle of "national treatment" ensures that Canadians have access to the best the world has to offer, while opening up international markets to Canadian creators, our stories and our culture. The Act is currently under review to ensure that it reflects the latest in technology and remains at the forefront of international copyright measures.

"The societies which have succeeded best in winning and maintaining the most tolerable existences for their members have been those that have given very free scope to their poets, artists, philosophers, scholars, inventors . . . critics and innovators."

J. Bartlett Brebner, Canadian author and scholar

Policies that help encourage and support cultural industries often come under fire during negotiations with those trading partners seeking access to our market in cultural services. Paradoxically, while increased trade and globalization offer greater opportunities for exporting cultural products, they also challenge existing cultural policies. As part of globalization, increased trade promotes export of our cultural products. The government promotes cultural expression in a Canadian market that is among the most open in the world to foreign content. Canada plays a critical role in various multilateral, cultural and economic forums–including the G-8, La Francophonie, the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, UNESCO and the International Network on Cultural Policy–in order to promote the importance of cultural diversity internationally

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