Most of you are probably wondering what the hoopla is about.
What has the Canadian film industry up in arms ?

Well, Bill C-10 has a provision located in its Restrictive Covenants that enables the Minister of Canadian Heritage to refuse "public financial support of the production would not be contrary to public policy"

The problem here is that there is no clear definition of what is "contrary to public policy" and this amendment would result in arbitrary decisions in regards to what can and cannot be funded.

This may include documentaries of a controversial nature, films and television broadcasts that are critical of the government or one of the government's policies, or even film or television broadcasts that are critical of a government's allies.

Case in point is "Young People F**king" (aka YPF) - This romantic comedy was immediately labeled pornographic by supporters of bill C-10 because of the film's title, not because of the content of the film. And though sexual in nature, the content did not result in a R rating in many provinces.

Laws against films of a pornographic nature already exist in section 163 of our Criminal Code so additional laws to restrict public funding for material deemed obsene aren't required.

So how did something so controversial make it's way though the House of Commons and into the Senate, with little to no opposition ?
It's simple really ; Nobody noticed it.

That's right. It was buried so deeply in the bill that your local MP likely didn't see it and couldn't possibly know what he or she had voted through.

Please send your comments to your local Member of Parliament in regards to this issue and join the Bill C-10 group on Facebook by clicking here for additional information and updates.

- Thank You -