More on the GG controversy (en plus)

Just learned via Zach that George Murray of BookNinja fame was interviewed on Q on Monday about the ongoing GG controversy. He handled the issue in a very decent, even-handed way, but if anything a tad too gently, saying the jury process needed to be "tweaked" rather than, as he asserted on his own site, "fixed" because it was "obviously broken", and "clean[ed] as best we can". I can relate to his inclination to tailor his message to the medium: hot heads hardly prevail at the CBC. I'd still be inclined to use an adjective like "overhaul".

Cushy, cushy...

The job posting for the Head of Writing and Publishing at the Canada Council just went up. Hmmm... what a surprise! And nice salary -- it would keep about three of me living in the style to which we're accustomed. Funny -- I am almost qualified for this job. I know a fair bit about writing and publishing in this country. I have both official languages to the degree to which they're required. The only thing I lack is the management skills and experience. How about mismanagement skills? With my own book coming out next year, I could get myself on the short list easily. Maybe I should go for it!

More on the GG fullafaroo

Some lively stuff in the comments chain following the Book Ninja post on the whole GG fullafaroo (I think I just made this word up. Anyone out there -- tell me if I'm wrong). Andre Alexis has quite a different take on the Holmes interview than I entertained -- and he may well be right. Scroll down to comment #18. Holmes' response is comment #36. See the post below for a link to the Holmes interview.

Fighting the hydra

I just learned through Zach that Melanie Rutledge is suddenly departing as head of the Writing and Publishing section of the Canada Council. Was the flack too much for her? Unless the next one comes in with the express purpose of reforming things, this may be enough to derail any attempts to pressure those changes from below... we'll have to redirect letters to the new director, etc. In the meantime, the whole issue could be swept under the rug.

My open letter to the Canada Council

Below is a letter I sent to Melanie Rutledge, head of the writing and publishing arm of the Canada Council. I've sent a copy to Robert Sirman, the head honcho of the Council as well. Practically nothing in this letter is original in the least. All the suggestions were made by others at Book Ninja and on the Canadian League of Poet's List Serve. Much of the wording echoes Zach's letter quite closely because, well, I couldn't think of a better way to phrase my concerns without much unnecessary brain wracking. Those words, though, bear repeating.

Dear Melanie Rutledge,

Doubtless you well aware of the controversy brought about by Jacob Scheier's win of this year’s Governor General’s Award for Poetry. Rather reiterate the contentions surrounding this decision, I would like to point out some measures that would assure greater objectivity and transparency in the award nomination and judging process. These have been suggested by a number of writers on websites and list serves where Canadian poetry is discussed.

-- having as many as five or six jurors, at least one of whom is not a Canadian poet, on the award jury

-- that the jurors make their decision independently on a points system, instead of meeting up and trying to persuade each other of the merits of their particular favourites

-- that meetings between jurors be recorded and witnessed, as they are in other jury funding processes, where someone can step in and say there's a clear conflict of interest here, or there's a bit too much personal sniping, etc.

Adopting any of these measures would go a long way towards clearing up the problems around this award. At a time when arts funding is being questioned and cut, it is extremely important that even the appearance of unethical or inappropriate dealings vis-à-vis the disbursement of public money be avoided.

Thank you for listening to my concerns.

Sincerely,

Brian Campbell
poet, translator, editor

numbers...

This week has been crazy hectic -- teaching morning & evening for 17 hours in the last 3 days (14 in the last 2), and getting a Canada Council grant application together. I just got it in in the nick of time (deadline was Oct. 1). That took about 30 hours to do at least. It's my first grant application, but I think it's a strong one. So do a couple of friends who advised me. Won't know the verdict, tho, for 20 weeks. I'll keep all 10 fingers crossed... (the next number in this sequence will be 0, so I'll shut up!)