CanWest Global deal to purchase Alliance Atlantis a threat to Canadian culture
Toronto, December 20, 2007 - ACTRA is alarmed by the CRTC's decision to approve CanWest Global's purchase of Alliance Atlantis Communications. The U.S.-funded deal, with 64% ownership from U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs, gives a U.S. company effective control of two important Canadian media companies.
"Canadian rules set foreign ownership limits for a reason - our cultural sovereignty is too important. Our primetime television schedule is already dominated by U.S. shows, thanks to the CRTC. This decision is truly alarming. Now the CRTC has allowed a U.S. company to buy a Canadian broadcaster," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's National Executive Director.
The Broadcasting Act states that the Canadian broadcasting system shall be "effectively owned and controlled by Canadians." Broadcasting regulations limit foreign ownership of Canadian broadcasting companies to 46.7%.
"We have been clear. No amount of tinkering by the CRTC will resolve the fundamental problem of the de facto control of CanWest and Alliance Atlantis by an American bank. This deal will further jeopardize Canadian programming. We will review this decision and look at our options for appeal with our coalition partners," said Richard Hardacre, ACTRA's National President.
"Canadians share our concerns about foreign ownership. In a recent poll, 82% of Canadians feel it's important for the Canadian government to work to maintain and build a culture and identity distinct from the United States. Most Canadians, 66%, believe broadcasting and communications are too important to our national security and cultural sovereignty to allow foreign control of Canadian companies in this sector," Waddell added.
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada - the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.
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For more information:
Susan Ponting, National Public Relations Officer
(416) 897-7028, sponting@actra.ca
Chris Faulkner, Public Relations Officer
(416) 642-6710 cfaulkner@actratoronto.com
