Conclusion
Although previous broadcast legislation did not anticipate the rapid and revolutionary changes that would follow the advent of the Internet, the increasing power of global trends should not diminish the Canadian government's resolve to do everything possible to protect Canadian cultural expression. The broadcast regulator, the public agencies contributing to the broadcast sector, and the private and public production and content creation communities must all work together to ensure that Canadian culture flourishes.
Further, this "culture" combines a uniquely Canadian mix of languages and heritages, influence of diverse peoples; it's a mix that requires a few rules to help preserve it. Beyond French, English and Aboriginal, there are many new voices being sounded within Canada's borders and it is these affirmations, rather than a lack of American-ness or any other "ness" that makes us singular. We can change how we evaluate what is Canadian, and how we send that message around the world, but ought never lose sight of the need to avoid homogenization in the world diaspora.
References
1 Robert Armstrong, "Onwards and Upwards with the arts," Comment & Opinion, Playback magazine (Toronto, May 1, 2000, p. 8)
2 Michel Houle, "Study on the Canadian Documentary," Rencontres Documentaires (2000)
3 McKinsey and Company, Public Service Broadcasters around the World, A McKinsey Report for the BBC (January 1999)
4 Sandra Macdonald, Consideration of a Canadian Cultural Policy, Notes for Sandra Macdonald, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada, Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (Ottawa, October 22, 1998)