- Our Director of Communications and Member Services, Rasha Masalkhi, attended a cultural debate that brought together representatives from three political parties to share their visions on culture and cultural sovereignty. The participants were:
Martin Champoux, Bloc Québécois - Marwan El-Attar, New Democratic Party
- Steven Guilbeault, Liberal Party of Canada
The debate was moderated by journalist Johane Despins. Rasha shares the key points that were discussed:
Reforming Employment Insurance to Better Support Artists
The discussion highlighted the urgent need to reform the Employment Insurance system to better reflect the realities of artists and cultural workers. Proposals included income averaging over several years and increasing the minimum weekly benefit.
Key points included stronger support for cultural organizations – namely the allocation of 1% of the federal budget to arts and culture, – one of the major recommendation by the Canadian Arts Coalition. The taxation of digital giants was also mentioned as a potential source of revenue.
Modernizing Copyright Legislation
All participants agreed on the need to update the Copyright Act, particularly for the book and music sectors, to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI).
The artist resale right for visual artists was discussed, as well as the issue of fair compensation for the use of works in educational contexts. The removal of certain exceptions was proposed to better protect creators.
Regulating Artificial Intelligence in the Cultural Sector
AI was identified as a major challenge for creative industries. Participants called for a legislative framework that ensures transparency, protection of artists’ rights, and fair compensation when their works are used to train algorithms. The risk of job losses, especially in the dubbing sector, was also raised.
Strengthening the Online Streaming Act
The Online Streaming Act was also thoroughly debated. This legislation aims to require foreign digital platforms to contribute financially to the production of Canadian content, potentially generating up to $200 million per year—funds that could be reinvested in the cultural sector.
To watch debates and make an informed decision ahead of the election, visit the CPAC website: cpac.ca