So the CRTC has set out to ask Canadians what type of television they would like to have in the future. Finally. It's actually not that hard, just take a poll. Do you want to watch whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it, or not. Seems pretty simple but for some reason this required two whole weeks of hearings, pulling in "experts" and "media analysts" and "consumer representative organizations." Two weeks of people parading themselves in front of the Commission to stake out their positions and all arguing as to what would be best for all of us. Again I refer you to the simplest of simple poll questions: Do you want to watch whatever you want to watch, whenever you want to watch it...or....not.
I understand from our Canadian media outlets (especially our friends over there at the CBC) that this is too simplistic of a question, what about Canadian content, Canadian writers.... What about our Canadian stories? What will happen to our country if we lose those pieces. We may in fact lose ourselves. (insert patriotic music and teary eyed Trudeau lover here) This is Bullshit. I am Canadian because I live in Canada and subscribe to the society in which I exist. I am defined not by stories of the Toronto Maple Leafs, or the Montreal Canadiens or Stompin Tom, or a red headed girl playing the fiddle. But rather my contribution to the society that I live in. My contribution, may be irrelevant, unimportant or simply background noise to the larger discourse, but I am defined by that contribution nonetheless. It is my piece, the thing I do as an individual who lives in a collective. This is the main point that seems lost to these "content providers" who continually lament the fact that without CanCon laws we would be lesser of a Confederation. Just because you make something no one wants to see or hear, does not mean that your contribution to the fabric of our nation is meaningless, it simply means that you are just like the rest of us who post things to YouTube with varying degrees of success (and I do mean varying, see example Beiber, one extreme, and my neighbours cat video, the other extreme) If I were to paint a portrait of some random Canadian, and everyone thought it sucked, why would it be required to be hung in a Canadian art gallery full of other far better works of art from around the world? Because I am a Canadian painting another Canadian? Because it is important to feature my crumby item so as not to have anyone think that a Canadian couldn't paint as well as anyone else? At best this is charity, not country preservation.
I know this is really going to inflame some lovers of books about canoeing and the great wilderness of the North, but if the books are so good, and the content is so wonderful and it so closely relates to the Canadian identity, then why would it need any help? We should just get it, right? Like a great song that just clicks into the collective consciousness. Are we not capable of that? Why do we need government to tell us what should be popular, or worse, subsidize things that people do not find worth while? Particularly cultural content.
If the debate was truly about Canadian content and supporting Canadian values, we wouldn't have continual fights about funding matrices for public education or post secondary institutions. These are where our children and young people should be supported in their exploration of Canadiana. No, this debate is solely about money, and who gets to make it.
You getting to watch what you want when you want, is a terrifying thing for some Canadian Media Companies, who have spent the better part of the last decade mimicking their southern neighbours television programming, and reproducing it here north of 45th parallel wrapped tightly in the Canadian flag. They bet heavily that the Canadian consumer while frustrated with our lack of choice, would ultimately feel comfortable with them producing similar content (ie Amazing Race Canada, Storage Wars Canada, Canadian Idol) and then buying up the rest and re-transmitting it here in Canada. Unfortunately much like the dinosaurs themselves, they have not kept up with the coming shift that will ultimately undo them.
The internet has democratized content acquisition. With a few clicks, you can essentially get what you want when you want how you want. And while our Media Companies have tried to keep up, (CTV and Global essentially stream all your favourite, CBS, ABC, NBC Shows) it's still not enough. People are circumventing the restrictions that are in place and finding the content somewhere in the cloud. People don't watch, they stream. PVRs are decimating traditional advertising content (Pauvre pauvre Trivago guy)
This poses quite the conundrum. Who to go after and how. Well if I were a media baron, I'd use my influence with the Canadian Regulator, and have them target, the largest upcoming threat to my empire, Netflix. I'd point out as many times as I could that Netflix isn't even really a Canadian entity. I'd appear to back Canadian content producers; writers, actors, directors, and have them come out and say nasty things about how Netflix and their ilk are ruining the fabric of what it is to be Canadian, I'd lament the non contribution of Netflix, to a Canadian fund that is used to provide Canadian content (that no one really watches) and I would do this while at the same time attempting to launch my own streaming media service. I would call it something I think is catchy, something that sounds like I am mocking my customers with a whiny tone: Sho-mi. I would do all this and hope like hell that it works, that no one notices that our country is not about to fall apart. That we are still a unified confederation built on similar values, and not flimsy television programming.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
The current State of the Best Place on Earth
Remember the days of Gordon Campbell, and how ticked everyone on the left side of the spectrum was with him? Recall the days of full on pissing matches with the BCTF, BCGEU, progressives and social service agencies? But also recall that there was a sense of purpose to his movements. You may have not always agreed with Gordon Campbell's politics, nor his government's direction, but you understood that it was a part of a larger policy context. Focus on business growth in the province, decided and consistent approach to environmental policy (not enough for some admittedly but the carbon tax was a leading idea in the country) A focus on establishing an Olympic Legacy which would be the new standard (check) And a new way forward for Aboriginal Governance in the province.
Fast Forward to the current Liberal Government. The one elected decidedly by the people of British Columbia in what was determined as one of the greatest upsets in Canadian political history. (Though I am sure that there is something more surprising somewhere) The one that promised us a focus on the family (pun intended) and a plan to bring job prosperity to the province under a non nineties style of politic. Understand that I am admittedly a card carrying member of the NDP, (a choice that since made has only served to disappoint) so there is a salt lick that should be taken with my commentary.
Having said that, I miss the good ole days. In the current environment, you get the impression that Christy Clark and the Liberals are now being advised by insiders of the NDP, which I would state if I felt that the NDP were capable of such a coup at this point. Too many fires and not enough buckets.
We can start in the current tense, with the loss of the court case resulting in the BCTF walking around proud as punch, or the ridiculous referendum that's being peddled or rather back peddled by Minister Todd Stone. We can look in the distant past, (at least it feels distant) to the ridiculous fake fight with the Premier to our East and the solidly obtuse "5 conditions" that our province is requiring in order to proceed with an inevitable pipeline. Frankly we can jump to the future and look at the (I am projecting here) massive screw up of the Liquefied Natural Gas export process, which will inevitably see British Columbians paying a fiscal and environmental cost yet to be determined. I haven't even mentioned the bungled Worksafe investigation at Babine, which leaves the northern communities of Burns Lake and Prince George fuming. Nor the "Spin the Wheel Build a Bridge" Infrastructure project that is replacing the George Massey Tunnel.
To say this current Liberal Government is governing from its hip is to give too little credit to old west gunslingers.
There doesn't seem to be a plan, and when the Premier is pressed for one, we are given a great, yet somewhat tired: "British Columbians deserve better....I expect better... Global Economy....children are our future....look at the big picture..... blah blah blah...."
I know it sounds as if I am being a tad political here (card carrying member of the party of "no negative ads" Seriously?!)
But as I said in my open, when Campbell was running the province I never got the impression, that he or the government didn't have a concrete vision. At this point, I'd like to see A vision. Or even Some vision. But alas there doesn't appear to be one forthcoming.
And the missed opportunities are flying by. The most current of which would seem to be the taxation level that is supposed to be set on the development of LNG. This was supposed to be out this spring. But looks to be delayed till fall. In terms of the importance of this, the BC Liberals campaigned on the idea of the magical $100 billion dollar prosperity fund. A great sound bite and a wonderful idea. It's a lot like my idea of purchasing a 2014 Audi S6 (just love the look) a wonderful idea. Win win really. Save for one small part. You see, in order for myself or the BC Government to achieve our goals, we would need to set some money into an account. And a way to do that would be through the taxation level on LNG (and me to set aside $100 a month forever) yet, no discussion. No Christy in front of the cameras, no front page of the province. Swing and a Miss!
A perfect opportunity to remind us out here that that is the point. Prosperity fund, lower taxes, etc etc. Work to solidify your base and expand into the middle. But no. Better let Mustachioed Mike announce it's delay and quietly wait around until no one notices that the actual taxation/royalty/price per litre levels will be nowhere near what was promised (what with the global economy and whatever....)
Another missed opportunity is to let the road pricing happen. There are a ton of ways to do this, but they all result in the same thing. People who use the roads, pay the cost. I, like most people living the lower mainland, don't love the idea, but I understand it. I'm not an idiot. I know these things cost money. And I also know its not fair for someone in Armstrong, or Houston, to pay for infrastructure cost that they don't actually use. Another opportunity to lead, piss off some but have a larger vision, and move the province forward. Like the last guy did, you know, the drunk one. (I can't let that go....as I said card carrying member here)
In conclusion. Though really, this will just go on and on, I am seeking some guidance here from my government, some order or vision. Something I can point to and say that while I don't agree, I understand. And that whatever that vision is, is the mandate handed to the BC government by the populace.
And just one more thing. Can you please stop having Pamela Martin appear in government/campaign ads appearing as though she were still a reporter? We all get that she isn't... it's just annoying now.
Fast Forward to the current Liberal Government. The one elected decidedly by the people of British Columbia in what was determined as one of the greatest upsets in Canadian political history. (Though I am sure that there is something more surprising somewhere) The one that promised us a focus on the family (pun intended) and a plan to bring job prosperity to the province under a non nineties style of politic. Understand that I am admittedly a card carrying member of the NDP, (a choice that since made has only served to disappoint) so there is a salt lick that should be taken with my commentary.
Having said that, I miss the good ole days. In the current environment, you get the impression that Christy Clark and the Liberals are now being advised by insiders of the NDP, which I would state if I felt that the NDP were capable of such a coup at this point. Too many fires and not enough buckets.
We can start in the current tense, with the loss of the court case resulting in the BCTF walking around proud as punch, or the ridiculous referendum that's being peddled or rather back peddled by Minister Todd Stone. We can look in the distant past, (at least it feels distant) to the ridiculous fake fight with the Premier to our East and the solidly obtuse "5 conditions" that our province is requiring in order to proceed with an inevitable pipeline. Frankly we can jump to the future and look at the (I am projecting here) massive screw up of the Liquefied Natural Gas export process, which will inevitably see British Columbians paying a fiscal and environmental cost yet to be determined. I haven't even mentioned the bungled Worksafe investigation at Babine, which leaves the northern communities of Burns Lake and Prince George fuming. Nor the "Spin the Wheel Build a Bridge" Infrastructure project that is replacing the George Massey Tunnel.
To say this current Liberal Government is governing from its hip is to give too little credit to old west gunslingers.
There doesn't seem to be a plan, and when the Premier is pressed for one, we are given a great, yet somewhat tired: "British Columbians deserve better....I expect better... Global Economy....children are our future....look at the big picture..... blah blah blah...."
I know it sounds as if I am being a tad political here (card carrying member of the party of "no negative ads" Seriously?!)
But as I said in my open, when Campbell was running the province I never got the impression, that he or the government didn't have a concrete vision. At this point, I'd like to see A vision. Or even Some vision. But alas there doesn't appear to be one forthcoming.
And the missed opportunities are flying by. The most current of which would seem to be the taxation level that is supposed to be set on the development of LNG. This was supposed to be out this spring. But looks to be delayed till fall. In terms of the importance of this, the BC Liberals campaigned on the idea of the magical $100 billion dollar prosperity fund. A great sound bite and a wonderful idea. It's a lot like my idea of purchasing a 2014 Audi S6 (just love the look) a wonderful idea. Win win really. Save for one small part. You see, in order for myself or the BC Government to achieve our goals, we would need to set some money into an account. And a way to do that would be through the taxation level on LNG (and me to set aside $100 a month forever) yet, no discussion. No Christy in front of the cameras, no front page of the province. Swing and a Miss!
A perfect opportunity to remind us out here that that is the point. Prosperity fund, lower taxes, etc etc. Work to solidify your base and expand into the middle. But no. Better let Mustachioed Mike announce it's delay and quietly wait around until no one notices that the actual taxation/royalty/price per litre levels will be nowhere near what was promised (what with the global economy and whatever....)
Another missed opportunity is to let the road pricing happen. There are a ton of ways to do this, but they all result in the same thing. People who use the roads, pay the cost. I, like most people living the lower mainland, don't love the idea, but I understand it. I'm not an idiot. I know these things cost money. And I also know its not fair for someone in Armstrong, or Houston, to pay for infrastructure cost that they don't actually use. Another opportunity to lead, piss off some but have a larger vision, and move the province forward. Like the last guy did, you know, the drunk one. (I can't let that go....as I said card carrying member here)
In conclusion. Though really, this will just go on and on, I am seeking some guidance here from my government, some order or vision. Something I can point to and say that while I don't agree, I understand. And that whatever that vision is, is the mandate handed to the BC government by the populace.
And just one more thing. Can you please stop having Pamela Martin appear in government/campaign ads appearing as though she were still a reporter? We all get that she isn't... it's just annoying now.
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