Canadian Cultural Protectionism - Studies and Recommendations

Studies and Recommendations

When addressing the United States, former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said he felt that: "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly or temperate the beast, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

One of the first such responses to perceived American cultural invasion in the later half of the 20th century was through the National Film Act of 1950, authorized by Queen Elizabeth II it increased the authority of the government's National Film Board to finance and promote Canadian culture.

The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, also known as the Massey Commission, advocated the creation of a government sponsored organization that would exclusively finance Canadian artists. This organization, named the Canada Council, is responsible for the distribution of large sums of money to individuals or groups that promote the what it defines as Canadian culture. The Council had a greater impact than its parent, and continues to support emerging Canadian cultural talent that it approves of.

The Commission also works to foster a general sense that Canada risks being swamped by an invasion of foreign culture. This led to an increased fear that Canada might very well lose a distinct, national culture.