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Sarah Polley warns that Bill C-10 may look good at dinner, but we’ll regret it in the morning
Posted on April 10, 2008 by Douglas Bell
Sarah Polley is in Ottawa today along with a lot of other “Canadian stars” telling the Senate to amend Bill C-10 so as to prevent Tory hacks from yanking film financing after the fact if the content bothers their constituents. Questioned on CBC-TV this morning, Polley said, “Ultimately there are gaps in the thinking here.… Of course, over a dinner party this sounded good, but when we really look at it, it really does amount to censorship…and we will stop at nothing until these provisions are dropped.”
Yikes. Martha Stewart meets Robespierre. Try to imagine a dinner party wherein C-10 seemed like a good idea: there’s Josée Verner and Stephen Harper—and who’s that sitting beside Laureen? Why if it isn’t Satan! Off with their heads!
But seriously, folks, this is one of those stupendously bad ideas that defies—and in fact belittles—rational comment. The Tories are counting on groups like the Canada Family Action Coalition to rise up and smite the leftist urban beast that, for the moment, is keeping them from their rightful majority. Here’s an example of the CFAC’s “thinking” as expressed in that organization’s petition espousing C-10:
The Government proposed Bill C-10—legislation that would require the Heritage Minister or a committee to set some Canadian decency standards before approving funding. The film industry is outraged about this. Why? Several groups said that not receiving such funding would violate the Charter. The Charter does NOT grant the film industry entitlement to your tax money. That is a socialist entitlement mentality that taxpayers reject.
“Socialist entitlement mentality”? Who writes their stuff? Roy Cohn risen from the grave?
• Polley carries protest to Parliament [Globe and Mail]
• Canadian stars take fight against Bill C-10 to Ottawa [CBC]
• Sarah Polley Interview [CBC]
• TAXPAYERS abused [Canada Family Action Coalition]
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GravityLevity2 April 12, 2008 at 1:36 a.m.
Sarah Polley looks sufficiently like martha Stewart and Robespierre to play either.
charley April 12, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
I think she looks a bit like Uma Thurman too.
Barbara_in_BC April 13, 2008 at 2:57 p.m.
"Minister 'hates' Bill C-10, Conservative senator lets slip"
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008
As a Senate committee continues to grapple with the federal government's controversial Bill C-10, which includes a provision that has riled Canada's creative community, the committee's chair appears to have let some behind-the-scenes perspective slip out.
On Thursday, prominent members of Canada's film and TV production community testified for hours before the Senate committee on banking, trade and commerce to ask for changes to Bill C-10.
The omnibus tax bill includes an amendment that allows the Heritage Department to deny federal tax credits to already completed film or TV production it deems offensive or "contrary to public policy."
Critics have argued that the proposed law would amount to de facto censorship by the government, but Heritage Minister Josée Verner says that the intention is to prevent films that include extreme violence or pornography from receiving tax credits.
At one point on Thursday, Conservative Senator David Angus, who is the committee's chair, adjourned the session, but — before his microphone was turned off — made remarks that are raising some questions.
"The minister agrees. She told me she hates the law," Angus, whose voice was still being carried on an internet audio stream of the hearing, was heard telling someone close by.
"What we want is a sort of moratorium…"
Just a few seconds of Angus's remarks were recorded before the microphone was turned off.
Questioned afterward, the senator denied the comments.
"I did not quote the minister because I did not even talk to the minister," he told CBC News.
"I haven't heard myself say [the comment] and I'm certainly not acknowledging that I said it."
Angus added that whatever may or may not been recorded and streamed, he is simply trying to do his job.
The committee meets again April 16 and 17.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2008/0...
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