Canada Culture Anxiety

"There are two warring tendencies" in the government, said [Ian] Morrisson [of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting]. "On the one hand, people high in the administration have said they're going to maintain or increase support for the CBC. On the other hand, you have people in the Conservative (party) making anti-culture statements. I could see it going either way."



He believes Harper will put aside unpopular, neo-conservative moves to close down public broadcasting and end Canadian-content regulations.


"I think he'll see that building the mainstream brand of the Conservative Party is the most important thing. He wants it to become the dominant mainstream party, occupying the center and thus be in power for a long time. So I think it's more likely that the Conservative will not enact anti-culture policies. But it's not a slam-dunk." The other fear is related to the government's reform of the Copyright Act, delayed by the election. Many in the film, TV and music business feel this law will not do enough to protect artists' rights.