[jlos]

Appreciate the even handed summary here

> Canada is in a constant struggle to localize and protect local culture. And in the process there are often dubious monopolistic forces that inject themselves into that process.

I'd argue monopolistic control is the goal. The latest CRTC regulations seems a fairly straight-forward cash grab to prop up legacy media companies that would otherwise fail for their lack of competitiveness. Further, the process of putting out these regulations has been appallingly undemocratic. Bill C-11, like its predecessor Bill C-10, were not allowed to be debated in the house (only the 3rd time such a motion has been used in Canada)[0].

And lets be real, its not the average Canadian that benefits here. Its the owners and shareholders of the companies.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Streaming_Act#History

[cmrdporcupine]

Right, I mean, we have multiple problems, but I suspect in large part there's a Venn diagram of self-interested monopolistic stakeholders (because the monopoly-capitalism streak runs deep in the Canadian state) and "baby boomer" decision makers who still don't understand the Internet but have some notion of protecting "Canadian culture(s)"

"its not the average Canadian that benefits here" is maybe the point though -- these things became policy because, in the past, the average Canadian's interests were maybe taking precedence over those of (fairly large) minority interests in such a way that they were causing civil problems in Canada. By which I mean, if we don't take care of making sure that e.g. French & Indigenous culture has strong representation, we actually risk problems with the political cohesion of the country.

As we know, averages hide important details. In statistics, but also in cultural issues.

Many of the things we're talking about here look entirely different if you're looking out at them from e.g. Quebec or the North.