Former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau once said that the government did not belong in the bedroom of Canadians. So why should it be involved in the arts via the secretive draconian outpost of the government known as the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)?
Th CRTC has drawn up a to increase mandatory Canadian content on radio airwaves from an already high 35% to a staggering 45%. This sort of stuff brings up all sorts of philosophical issues regarding Canadian music.
First, music knows no boundaries or nationalities. Canadian music should be able to stand on its own two feet and merit. Let the public determine whether it is worthy.
Once upon a time there was a plausible rationale to help out Canadian artists who never had any support in Canada let alone around the world. Today, Canada is producing some of the world's top and most popular acts. Second, how does such a measure like Cancon even remotely help local talent and musicians in a competitive environment? It stinks of musical affirmative action.
For example, a Canadian receives all adulation and praise from radio stations but the minute they hit the U.S. reality sets in. It's frustrating when you listen to a Canadian song and you're not sure if it is as good as they tell you it is because of the Cancon. Third, it is a fact of life that government regulations thrust upon the human spirit is counter productive. What's next? 50%? 75%? Hey, why not go 100% and force upon Canadians a product they do not want or need.
Ironically, while artists tend to accept its tenets, socialism is not a natural ally of art. We want to help so much we end up hurting the person in the end.
This country went through this in the 1920s and 1930s when the plight of our film industry and magazines were threatened by the onslaught of American publications. In the end, after a battle between nationalists, government, the people and businessmen, Canadians chose to continue watching Orson Welles films and reading People Magazine. That was true then and it is true now. No one is interested in watching Canadian music take a step back. Our music and films were terrible for so long. Now that it is finally finding its voice we want to jeopardize it by ensuring mediocrity prevails.
If you care about Canadian art and culture you should voice your disapproval to the CRTC.
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