[CanadianLynx]

at least we can travel coast to coast,and still listen to the same radio station.
American stations can't override our weaker signals.

[Scape]

Dayseed,

The Smart regs will be the modus operandi in which bodies like the CRTC will be destroyed. In that we will see just what the future holds. Hwacker wants freedom of choice, smart regs cater to that in the short term but in the long term freedom to maintain cultural identity is lost as it will be drowned out in a sea of mainstream consumer media tailored to suit to consumers mind and ones who's values by volume will supersede any counter values to it. In effect being Canadian will be as acceptable as being Amish in the new media, no one will say you can't to it and it will still have a minor market to cater to but it will have the connotation of being a dead end culture thus little or no investment in either new bands, radio/TV stations or say in what is really Canadian.

$1:

Though it's being touted as a safe and sensible streamlining of Canada's bureaucratic mess, a tidying of excess red tape, a growing mass of critics are saying the federal government's new Smart Regulation initiative will, at its core, compromise protections on everything from the pills we pop to the lands we drill.

They contend that the massive effort, which sweeps across 15 departments, is fundamentally designed to grease international trade wheels by squashing Canuck standards and "harmonizing" them with those of the U.S. And to ease the corporate burden even more, companies that manufacture chemicals, prescription drugs, pesticides, biotechnology – hell, even offshore oil drillers – are promised speedier approvals under the new system. Officials insist it's all in the name of greater safety, health and protection, but observers charge that the plan looks more like Canada's version of No Lobbyist Left Behind.

Of course, the politicians will continue to refer us to their own special dictionary. The one where "safety" means "speed," "best practices" means "American practices" and "smart," of course, always means just that.

Welcome to the Smart Regulation Initiative

[Dayseed]

RUSerious,

Less American, more Canadian? Ask Famous Players or Cineplex Odeon (I guess it's only one question anymore) how they would feel about having to show a certain percentage of Canadian movies in their theatres. Sorry folks, no Batman Begins for you, here's a piece of crap from northern Manitoba about a depressed father and son in a canoe.

Secondly, whether or not you agree with Howard Stern and what he says (which would also make a very good topic, I'm willing to bet you've got a half-formed hearsay opinion of him), I'm PAYING for it. On satellite radio, whatever he says, I pay for. It's no different than if I waltz into a Kevin Smith movie and hear his hilarious brand of dirty dialogue. I PAID for it. If Howard Stern or Kevin Smith were broadcasting their stuff for free on public airwaves (which Stern is in Toronto), fine, maybe the CRTC or other censorship bodies have a point. But on PAID radio? Fuck the CRTC.

Why does Canadian content mean I have to suffer through tedious crap and be denied programming or choices I want? So I can hear the next Sum-41 moron band get airtime with their watered down punk?

It's not right and I should have an option to pay to hear what I want. Which the CRTC feels they have the mandate to stick their nose into. It's not right, get rid of them.

[hwacker]

Dayseed Dayseed:

RUSerious,

Less American, more Canadian? Ask Famous Players or Cineplex Odeon (I guess it's only one question anymore) how they would feel about having to show a certain percentage of Canadian movies in their theatres. Sorry folks, no Batman Begins for you, here's a piece of crap from northern Manitoba about a depressed father and son in a canoe.

Secondly, whether or not you agree with Howard Stern and what he says (which would also make a very good topic, I'm willing to bet you've got a half-formed hearsay opinion of him), I'm PAYING for it. On satellite radio, whatever he says, I pay for. It's no different than if I waltz into a Kevin Smith movie and hear his hilarious brand of dirty dialogue. I PAID for it. If Howard Stern or Kevin Smith were broadcasting their stuff for free on public airwaves (which Stern is in Toronto), fine, maybe the CRTC or other censorship bodies have a point. But on PAID radio? Fuck the CRTC.

Why does Canadian content mean I have to suffer through tedious crap and be denied programming or choices I want? So I can hear the next Sum-41 moron band get airtime with their watered down punk?

It's not right and I should have an option to pay to hear what I want. Which the CRTC feels they have the mandate to stick their nose into. It's not right, get rid of them.

Damn where is this coming from?

Maybe he's coming over to the good side.

[Dayseed]

It's not a side/side thing Hwacker, nor is it a Lib/Con thing, it's an issue by issue thing.

And on this issue, I find the CRTC to be an outmoded institution that denies me programming I want based SOLELY on country of origin. Multiculturalism includes the States too.

Besides, RUSerious has the Trailer Park Boys as his avatar and yet has the gall to label Howard Stern as corrupting filth. Smooth move hypocrite. What exactly do you find offensive about Stern that you turn around and embrace with the TPBs? Is it because Stern is American and the TPBs are Canadian?

Moreover, I don't have all the TPBs seasons on DVD because they're Canadian. They're funny. Ditto Howard Stern.

[hwacker]

Godz46 Godz46:

$1:

nor is it a Lib/Con thing

Well actually it is. Say what your saying to the Liberal Party and they will haul your ass out. Say what your saying to a Canadian Conservative and he'll say "Right on".

Your advocating the Libertarin position regarding broadcasting regulation.

Harper would have squashed the CRTC and said so. The Liberals embrace the CRTC, just look at the board members.

[Pimpbrewski]

Correct me if I am wrong but.....

Didn't the FCC in the states reinforced their policies under the Bush Administration? That whole Jackson superbowl event.

On top of that, guess who was the head of FCC? Powell until he got replaced and with good reasons. Must be nice to know people in the right places.

Powell's FCC

[hwacker]

Sabre Sabre:

Correct me if I am wrong but.....

Didn't the FCC in the states reinforced their policies under the Bush Administration? That whole Jackson superbowl event.

On top of that, guess who was the head of FCC? Powell until he got replaced and with good reasons. Must be nice to know people in the right places.

Powell's FCC

That’s a whole different thing altogether.

They already get Canadian programming and HBO, those bad people.

[Pimpbrewski]

hwacker hwacker:

That’s a whole different thing altogether.

They already get Canadian programming and HBO, those bad people.

I know. I made that comment only based on the fact that the thread turned into a Liberal vs Conservative type of topic. Not sure if it was meant to be that way. Anyhoot !!!! I was only trying to make a point that the Republicans had their say in this too. Again, did not want to flame or anything like that. (this is only my opinion, but....... some make Bush out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread) I don't get it.

[Ripcat]

To all that are unhappy with the CRTC:

Go get an iPod!

[Scape]

Sabre Sabre:

I made that comment only based on the fact that the thread turned into a Liberal vs Conservative type of topic.

And why is it not Conservative vs Bloc then? Who is the strongest advocate of control over culture? *cough*Bill 101*cough*

Dayseed you paid for it in CANADIAN money. You get what you pay for. You do not have complete control of the culture of Canada, get an Ipod. Canadian telecommunications are more than an echo of US stations. How do you suggest we prevent that from happening under the unrestricted model your in favor of?

[Pimpbrewski]

Scape Scape:

Sabre Sabre:

I made that comment only based on the fact that the thread turned into a Liberal vs Conservative type of topic.

And why is it not Conservative vs Bloc then? Who is the strongest advocate of control over culture? *cough*Bill 101*cough*

Scape, I am not taking this personally, but please do not assume that since I am from Quebec that I am a supporter of the Bloc !!! For I am not. (Ask anyone on this site)

Although, I know what you mean politically.

I might have been wrong stating that this thread may or may not have anything to do with politics. Actually, it does in some ways. I apologize. At the beginning, I wanted to express my discontent towards the CRTC in particular for having imposed some restrictions at CHOI FM (Jeff). I know this might sound corny but ..... If someone does not like the programming which he/she listens to, then turn it off. But leave it on for the rest of the population which might take a little pleasure listening. That was the point I was trying to make, for it was not politically motived at the beginning.

Btw, If this means me being a conservative by making this comment, then so be it.

[Dayseed]

Scape,

I propose a meritocracy of sorts for radio and television broadcasting. The federal government can fund Canadian shows (with the savings from scrapping the CRTC) in partnership with Canadian networks to give Canadian shows exposure and time to find an audience. As these shows become established, federal funding is withdrawn as advertising revenues increase so that other shows may benefit from a government 'boost'. I doubt Hockey Night in Canada would require obscene amounts of money to fund; ditto Corner Gas or the Trailer Park Boys. Let the American shows run wild after that. Does HNIC really need protection from ABC or ESPN or whomever has the NHL broadcasting rights in the US should it be broadcasted here? Part 1 of the meritocracy aspect.

However, if a Canadian show is DEPENDENT upon protectionism (i.e. restricting American shows from competing for an audience) then screw that show. Consequently, the government needn't fund a show that consistently loses money, has no audience or gets whupped by American shows. That's Part 2 of the meritocracy aspect.

Afterall, if people are tuning in to an American show by choice over a domestically produced show, what really is Canadian then? If we're all watching Family Guy and ignoring Puppets Who Kill, isn't Family Guy a bigger part of Canadian culture and more defining of it?

I know I don't have complete control of Canadian culture. I just don't think the CRTC should either.