HARPER GOVERNMENT VOTES
AGAINST PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF CANADIAN CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC
IDENTITY
OTTAWA
– Liberal Opposition Heritage Critic Mauril Bélanger today
criticized the Harper government’s opposition of a motion to protect and
promote Canadian cultural identity.
“The
reason this motion was brought forward at this time is because we had
reason to doubt the Harper government’s commitment to protecting and
promoting our Canadian cultural sovereignty.
Yesterday's vote proves our concern was justified,” said Mr. Bélanger,
Member of Parliament
for Ottawa-Vanier.
The
motion, which was tabled by the Liberal Opposition, calls on the
government to ensure the protection of domestic cultural rights by
maintaining or enhancing content requirements, foreign ownership
restrictions and financial support for public broadcasting in both
official languages.
With
leadership from the Liberals, the motion was unanimously adopted by all
opposition parties in the House – only the Conservatives opposed it.
“While
Leader of the Official Opposition, Stephen Harper called on the government
to respect the will of the House of Commons when opposition motions were
adopted,” Mr. Bélanger
said.
“Will Prime Minister Harper now be consistent in his opinions and
respect the will of the House by forcing his government to implement this
motion?”
The
motion reads:
“That, in
view of the ratification by Canada of the Convention on the Protection and
Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the House insist that
the government provide direction to trade negotiators to ensure that
domestic cultural rights are not undermined in any trade talks, and that
its departments and agencies maintain the program policies and regulations
in support of Canada's artistic sector and cultural industries, in
particular, by maintaining or enhancing: (a) existing Canadian cultural
content requirements; (b) current restrictions on foreign ownership in the
cultural sector; and (c) financial support for public broadcasting in both
official languages.”
