Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, seen here with a painting by John Hartman and in discussion with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, is known as a fan of the arts, and is a former board member of the Musée d'art contemporain in Montréal. So some are wondering why many arts genres were excluded from Canadian Heritage's new Expert Advisory Panel on Canadian Content in a Digital Age. Photo: Facebook.
Who gets the Heritage Minister’s ear when it comes to what is being called “a sweeping review of Canada’s cultural policies”?
Not, some are saying, representatives of Canada’s visual arts, dramatic arts and literary publishing communities.
On Tuesday, the Globe and Mail broke the news that “the federal government is appointing a dozen outside experts as a ‘sounding board’ to help steer a sweeping review of Canada’s cultural policies.”
In a release later that day, Canadian Heritage called the group an “Expert Advisory Panel” in relation the ministry’s wider “Canadian Content in a Digital World” consultations. The group will meet with Minister Mélanie Joly five times before January 2017, while Canadian Heritage is due to release plans for wider popular consultations this summer, and enact those consultations this fall.
The expert sounding board is composed of 12 people, most of whom represent the broadcast, media and film industries. Here is the full list, according to the Globe:
• Rob Blackie, a producer whose credits include the CBC TV series Republic of Doyle
• Katie Boland, an actor, writer and producer
• Catherine Cano, chief executive officer of public affairs channel CPAC
• Loc Dao, chief digital officer at the National Film Board
• Lisa de Wilde, CEO of public broadcaster TVO
• Michael Donovan, executive chairman of DHX Media Ltd.
• Charles Falzon, dean of Ryerson University’s faculty of communication and design
• Philippe Lamarre, owner of production house Urbania Media
• Jean La Rose, CEO of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
• Monique Savoie, president and artistic director of Société des Arts Technologique
• Justin West, founder and president of Secret City Records
• Kenneth Whyte, senior vice-president of public policy for Rogers Communications Inc.
Although the Globe noted that “the group has no decision-making power” and “there is no expectation that the group members will draft a formal report,” several members of Canada’s arts and literary communities spoke up online immediately about their concerns regarding exclusion of key genres.
@healeytypes @jembradshaw @melaniejoly 8 of the 12 are broadcast media execs. The “array” of expertise is not very arrayed.
— Geoffrey Pounsett (@pounsey) June 28, 2016
EVERY SINGLE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of a performing arts institution in the country should be tagging @melaniejoly in a tweet right now.
— Michael Wheeler (@michaelcwheeler) June 29, 2016
I’m disappointed in performing arts leadership response to @CdnHeritage completely excluding us from advisory panel. Basically been crickets
— Michael Wheeler (@michaelcwheeler) June 29, 2016
So, @melaniejoly, why no writers or publishers–except one far-right magazine editor–on your culture policy board?https://t.co/LGZTOb5mwb
— Stephen Henighan (@StephenHenighan) June 28, 2016
@jembradshaw @melaniejoly No representation for performing arts community? Not impressed.
— Alison Smiley (@gwynskid) June 28, 2016
I am concerned that publishing is not represented in this review board @melaniejoly https://t.co/OvYsVdBdAD
— Nikki Reimer (@NikkiReimer) June 28, 2016
@melaniejoly Il vous faut un architecte sur le groupe de conseiller pour la politique culturelle. Le paysage construit doit en faire partie!
— jean beaudoin (@integraljb) June 28, 2016
@jembradshaw @melaniejoly @ONLibraryAssoc why no reps from library/archive sector?
— Karen McGrath (@kotlnc) June 28, 2016
Others called out the lack of cultural diversity on the panel:
“@jembradshaw: Meet @melaniejoly‘s 12member sounding bd for Cdn Heritage’s sweeping cultural policy review #cdnpoli” pic.twitter.com/dVDCb5UrCH
— Rachel Décoste (@RachelDecoste) June 28, 2016
@jembradshaw @melaniejoly Cultural policy without black people? Yes please! #becauseits2016 pic.twitter.com/tr64hgXz1q
— Rachel Décoste (@RachelDecoste) June 28, 2016
Some people pointed out, however, that there were some creators and theatre representatives on the panel, as well as an Indigenous person:
great to see author @katieboland on the Heritage cultural policy advisory https://t.co/H76U919iOv – creator voices are key @melaniejoly
— jkdegen (@jkdegen) June 28, 2016
@gwynskid @jembradshaw @melaniejoly Here’s panel member Katie Boland at the Actra Awards. https://t.co/3WMy6A5gtF
— Paul Wells (@InklessPW) June 28, 2016
@DosGenndy Jean La Rose, who’s on the panel, is a First Nations citizen. (I’m not necessarily saying that’s enough, just pointing it out)
— James Bradshaw (@jembradshaw) June 28, 2016
When asked for comment on the genre-exclusion complaints, a Canadian Heritage spokesperson indicated that the nature of the group, and its small size, meant that some sectors would inevitably be left out.
“The group was chosen to represent creativity and innovation from across Canada’s cultural and technological sectors, and includes a wide variety of perspectives and experiences,” said the statement from the Canadian Heritage spokesperson. “Given the broad nature of the consultation on the topic of ‘Canadian Content Creation, Discovery and Export in a Digital World,’ it would be impossible to create a group of expert advisors who represent every discipline and industry affected by changes in the digital world.”
Canadian Heritage representatives did attempt to point out, however, that the arts community (as opposed to the wider cultural-industries catchment) would have particular consultations on digital strategy and related copyright issues through the Canada Council for the Arts this year.
“There will be many other opportunities to interact with the Minister during the consultations in the Fall,” the Canadian Heritage statement said. “In addition, the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), Canada’s national arts funding agency, is leading an initiative to learn about how the arts sector in particular is using and adapting to digital tools and technology. The CCA initiative focuses on visual arts, performing arts and literary arts and will inform the Council’s digital strategy.”
