The Globe & Mail broke the story yesterday that Bill C-10, a palm frond away from being passed into law, includes an amendment that would allow the government to claw back tax credits on “offensive” films.
The bill, specifically relating to the Income Tax Act covers off myriad topics, from pensions to air navigation to oil. And buried like a needle in a haystack, changes related to the tax credit system.
Oh God. Doesn’t the Charter of Rights and Freedoms cover the following: “Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication?”
Yes, it does. Major kudos to Gayle MacDonald who led on the story. Well, it really hit the fan today after the Globe reported that Western evangelist Dr. Charles McVety was taking credit for lobbying and directing the change.
Jesus, is it Christian to boast?
Hard to see where the impetus for this came from…we already have porn provisos and obscenity laws in this country…but no, apparently the Christly Tories want to broaden the definition to cover gratuitous sex or violence that isn’t “educational,” or anything that denigrates a particular group. Wow, imagine challenging that sex proviso…would you argue that your film is educational and that some folks could stand to learn a little?
Current rumour (as of Friday, Feb. 29 at 6 pm PST) is that the Senate is sending the bill back to committee. Bill C-10 went through ALL THREE READINGS in the House of Commons on October 29, 2007 and through its first in the Senate on October 30. It’s now between its second and third reading and likely en route to the Valley of Death.
You can find the bill online (www.parl.gc.ca/37/3/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/).
Note the very vague reference to in the Summary: “Part 2 enacts provisions to implement announcements made by the Minister of Finance…on November 14, 2003, to simplify and better target the tax incentives for certified Canadian films.”
It’s not official until it receives Royal Assent…so we’ll see what happens on Monday.
For more check out the facebook protest page, “Keep your censoring hands off of Canadian film and TV! No to Bill C-10!”
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