Canada cracks down on film
Canadian Heritage officials confirmed (via) on Thursday they will be “expanding slightly” the criteria used for denying tax credits to include grounds such as gratuitous violence, significant sexual content that lacks an educational purpose, or denigration of an identifiable group.
Arts groups are planning to fight the change and director, David Cronenberg is among those warning that the edgy, low-budget films that have garnered Canadians international acclaim will be at risk. Novelist Susan Swan, chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada, has also pledged to lead her 1,600-strong membership in a protest.
The groups claim the changes violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees certain political and civil rights of people in Canada from the policies and actions of all levels of government.
According to Cronenberg: “The irony is that it is the Canadian films that have given us an international reputation [that] would be most at risk because they are the edgy, relatively low-budget films made by people like me and others that will be targeted by this panel.”
Inevitably, the moral minority have been quick to claim credit for the changes. Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition, said his lobbying efforts included discussions with Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, and “numerous” meetings with officials in the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We’re thankful that someone’s finally listening,” he said yesterday. “It’s fitting with conservative values, and I think that’s why Canadians voted for a Conservative government.”
McVety, as is common with so many on the religious right, seems not to understand that he is not obliged to watch any films that he doesn’t want to.
Wednesday 05 Mar 2008 | Paul | Canada
