The minister for la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine welcomes the report of the Forum on the development of the Quebec dubbing industry, which was chaired by Mr. Hans Fraikin, commissioner of the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ) and is following up on its recommendations.

Feature films, television, training, tax measures, tariffs and federal government measures were at the center of the six working groups which were made up of specialists from the film industry.
From these exchanges came forth eight recommendations for the minister with the aim of improving dubbing training, the promotion of Quebec know-how and also cooperation on the part of those involved in the dubbing industry for feature films and televised series intended for Quebec television.
Forum report and recommendations (in French only)
Press release and appendix (in French only)

OTTAWA, July 20, 2010 – The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today announced a review of the Revised Foreign Investment Policy in Book Publishing and Distribution, which will include consultations with individuals and organizations interested in Canadian books.

“As the digital world creates new opportunities for Canadians to discover and connect with Canadian-authored books, it is critical that we foster innovation, efficiency, and healthy competition in Canada’s book industry,” said Minister Moore. “Our Government demonstrated its commitment to the future of Canadian-authored books in 2009, when we renewed funding over five years to help the Canadian-owned book industry keep pace in a changing environment. The review announced today seeks to ensure that Canada’s foreign investment policy for the book sector reflects new realities and supports our goal of ensuring that readers everywhere have access to a wide range of Canadian-authored books.”

Since the current policy was introduced in 1985 and revised in 1992, a number of developments–including the proliferation of digital technologies, consolidation of ownership, and increased globalization–have altered Canada’s landscape for both the book industry and consumers.

The Competition Policy Review Panel’s final report highlighted the importance of reviewing cultural policies in light of the changing context in which they operate, while recognizing the unique nature of the cultural sector. The policy review announced today is yet another example of this Government’s commitment to deliver on the Panel’s recommendations.

The online consultations, which begin today and close on September 18, 2010, will seek Canadians’ feedback on the impacts of the policy to date and on how best to meet its objectives going forward. Further details about the key themes being considered can be found in a discussion paper posted on the consultation website. For more information on the review and on how to participate in the consultation, visit www.pch.gc.ca/bookconsultation.

For more information (media only), please contact:

Matthew Deacon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
819-997-7788
matthew.deacon@pch.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

Any citizen or organization wishing to express an opinion on this subject must submit a brief to the Secrétariat des commissions de l’Assemblée nationale no later than August 16, 2010.

For more information on the procedure to follow to be heard by the Commission, go to the Assemblée nationale website www.assnat.qc.ca or contact the Secrétariat des commissions de l’Assemblée at (418) 643-2722.

Press release (in French only)

Document(s) related to this mandate (in French only)

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Work has begun by the Action Group for the Commission on Francophone Schools on a language and cultural development policy in response to a major priority identified in the commission report prepared by Gino LeBlanc.

The action group identified the areas of activity for developing the policy, which will describe the characteristics of schools desired for the Acadian and francophone communities, the objectives to be achieved, and the means of achieving them.

The Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB) welcomes its involvement in elaborating the policy, especially since its implementation was a recommendation of the États généraux des arts et de la culture (Summit of arts and culture in New Brunswick’s Acadian society).

“We believe that artists contribute to the growth of the educational community by creating works of art that allow students to ask questions by suggesting other points of view and other ways of looking at the world,” said Carmen Gibbs, the executive director, AAAPNB.

Ernest Thibodeau, president of the Fédération des conseils d’éducation and spokesperson for the action group, said the development of the policy is advancing at a good pace.

“Developing this type of policy is a long-term effort,” he said. “The synergy between the members of the action group keeps growing at every meeting. With this common vision, we will be able to achieve all our objectives. This policy will transform the francophone education system in New Brunswick and will help develop better schools for our children.”

The action group is developing a plan to use the $5.7 million announced recently by the provincial government as a follow-up to the commission’s report.

VICTORIA – The Province is embarking on a review of British Columbia’s Society Act to modernize and update the statute that provides rules for the registration and governance of not-for-profit organizations in B.C., Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced today.

“As part of the review, we’re inviting input from the more than 26,000 societies registered in B.C.,” said Hansen. “I encourage them and anyone else with interest in the legislation to take part. Their feedback will help determine what changes need to be made.”

This review forms part of the Province’s ongoing revision of important framework statutes in the corporate, commercial, real estate, and financial services sectors. In recent years, this process has resulted in several pieces of new or revised legislation.

Although the Society Act has occasionally been amended, it is outdated and in need of revision. There has been no comprehensive revision of the act since 1977. Other corporate statutes such as the Business Corporations Act, which governs companies, and the Cooperative Association Act, which governs cooperatives, have been completely rewritten within the last decade.

The review will address two fundamental structural questions. The first concerns the nature of the corporate model most appropriate for societies and whether a sophisticated business law framework should be adopted. The second issue concerns the extent to which the act should contain regulatory provisions or other rules that constrain the operation of societies. The deadline for feedback on the first phase of the review is April 1, 2010.

British Columbians are invited and encouraged to participate by providing their comments via the following methods:

Email: fcsp@gov.bc.ca

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) announced today the development of a Recreational Leasing Policy Framework and a temporary freeze on lease applications for Commissioner’s Land in the Cassidy Point, Walsh/Banting/Prosperous lakes area.

The Recreational Leasing Policy Framework is being developed to strengthen the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) land administration program by addressing the demand for land for recreational use. The development of the Framework will be undertaken collaboratively and include participation of internal GNWT stakeholders and external partners such as the Akaitcho Dene First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and the City of Yellowknife. Other interested parties, including existing lease holders, will also be encouraged to participate. While the Framework is being developed, MACA will stop leasing activity in the area.

Once complete, the Framework will ensure future sustainable development and management both in the area and across the Northwest Territories (NWT), and will, amongst other things, develop parameters for cabins and other structures, make land available for recreational use in a transparent and open manner, control new instances of trespass, and protect the natural environment.

“The Commissioner’s Land in this area is a popular recreational area with the highest demand for leases, and the highest concentration of trespassers, in the NWT,” said the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. “To continue to allow leasing and development in during the development of the Framework will only add to the land and environmental management concerns that already exist in the area.”

Existing leaseholders in the area will retain all of the rights they have under their current leases to renew, assign, or amend the documents. The land freeze will only prohibit new leases in the area, and will be lifted in December 2011, or upon the completion of the Recreational Leasing Policy Framework. During the land freeze, MACA will continue to prosecute individuals who trespass in the area.

For a map of the Commissioner’s Land outlining the area where the freeze is in place, please visit MACA’s website at http://www.maca.gov.nt.ca

Through the development of the Recreational Leasing Policy Framework, the GNWT is working to manage the land in the NWT, and is coordinating efforts to ensure development is sustainable as envisioned in the 16th Assembly’s Vision of Northerners Working Together.